NEW YORK – Porter Novelli has appointed Sarah DaVanzo to the newly-created global role of chief innovation officer, head of strategic services and foresight.

DaVanzo brings experience across product, service, process, retail, brand, portfolio, business model, digital, technology, AI and marketing innovation, and strategic foresight, with 20 years of leadership roles in brands and agency-side.

She was most recently chief consumer engagement and activation officer and chief data officer at French pharma and beauty Pierre Fabre Group, whose brands include Eau Thermale Avène and Klorane, responsible for AI, analytics, insights, foresight and marketing services innovation and execution.

Before this, DaVanzo was VP, consumer and market insights and foresight (research and innovation) at L’Oréal, and was also director of trends + culture, strategic planning innovation at Publicis. She is also a Rolling Stone Culture Council journalist who contributes thought-leadership on innovation and the future.

In her new role, DaVanzo is tasked with driving digital transformation through innovation – including in the areas of AI, data analytics, insights and foresight – for Porter Novelli’s clients. She will lead the agency’s global strategic services across its Data + Analytics, Strategy + Insights, Digital + Innovation, Influencer, and Paid + Platforms segments.

DaVanzo will join Porter Novelli’s global operating committee and reports to global CEO Jillian Janaczek, who said: “As a recognized techno-futurist and AI innovator in marketing, Sarah adds an unrivalled dimension to our data-led, digital-first approach.

“We are doubling down on emerging technologies at the core of innovation and quantitative strategic foresight to deliver unparalleled counsel and results. I am thrilled for Sarah to join us during this next evolution of Porter Novelli.”

DaVanzo added: “It is an exhilarating opportunity to advance Porter Novelli’s digital transformation work with techno- futurism, AI-powered innovation, and the application of ‘curiosity science’ and ‘exotic data’. Industry 5.0 presents new rules of engagement, new sources of data and insight, and new tools for marketing communications – and we intend to trailblaze.”