The creative and media agency AKA has announced that Ellison Abbott has joined the company in the newly created position of head of brand and talent partnerships as of Feb. 17. In this role, Abbott will be responsible for creating, leading and scaling a talent-integrated brand partnership offering, reporting to Elizabeth Furze, AKA’s CEO of North America.
Abbott joins AKA after almost five years at the full-service entertainment company Roc Nation, where she most recently served as senior director of partnership marketing and special projects. There, she led cultural initiatives including “The Book of HOV,” a Brooklyn Public Library exhibition that paid tribute to rapper and Roc Nation co-founder Jay-Z, as well as the Made in America Music Festival. Abbott also helped launch the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment at Long Island University.
“I’m excited to join AKA at a pivotal moment as brands, culture, talent and live entertainment converge in new and innovative ways,” said Abbott in a statement. “With AKA’s reach, we have a rare opportunity to reimagine how brands partner with these high-value experiences — scaling programs, extending impact and bringing broader audiences into deeper engagement with the arts.”
Furze added, “We’re thrilled to welcome Ellison to AKA. She brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, cultural fluency and partnership expertise. Ellison’s experience working at the intersection of talent, brands and cultural platforms will be invaluable as we continue expanding how we connect audiences with live experiences.”
