Rethink Promoted Nicole Rajesky in New York
The advertising agency elevated Nicole Rajesky to partner and head of strategy for its New York office.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Business Strategy
Rethink has promoted Nicole Rajesky to the position of partner and head of strategy in New York. The agency also announced the promotion of Asher Stamell to partner and group strategy director.
Why it matters
The promotions represent a strategic leadership shuffle within the agency, which maintains a presence in major markets including Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Nicole Rajesky first joined the agency in 2020 as a senior strategist, marking six years of tenure before her promotion to partner. She now oversees strategy for major accounts including Kraft Heinz, WhatsApp, Meta, Kayak, and Netflix.
The players
Nicole Rajesky
She serves as the partner and head of strategy for the New York office at Rethink after previously working at No Fixed Address, Vice Media, and DDB.
Asher Stamell
He is a partner and group strategy director at Rethink who succeeded Rajesky in his current role.
Rethink
This advertising agency operates offices across North America in New York, Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Sean McDonald
He serves as a partner and the global chief strategy officer at Rethink.
The details
Rajesky reports to global chief strategy officer Sean McDonald as she takes on this newly created leadership role in the New York office. Asher Stamell was selected to succeed Rajesky in her former capacity as partner and group strategy director.
Timeline
Nicole Rajesky joined Rethink as a senior strategist in 2020.
Rajesky and Stamell assumed their new roles in October 2026.
Market Landscape
This move mirrors the industry-wide trend of agencies consolidating creative strategy leadership to better manage complex global accounts like Meta and Netflix. The shift reinforces the company's competitive position in the New York market against larger agency networks.
Clients managed by the New York office may see adjustments in account management as Rajesky transitions into her expanded head of strategy role. The move signals a continuity in service for major brands who rely on the agency's strategic planning.
The takeaway
Internal promotions often provide agencies with greater stability when managing large, multi-national accounts. Clients typically benefit from the institutional knowledge held by leaders who have risen through the firm's ranks.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership trends, visit our Business Strategy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MediaPost.
