Michelle Cobas joins MEL as Managing Director, Chief Growth Officer

MEL, a culture-forward creative collective, announced that Michelle Cobas has joined in the role of Managing Director, Chief Growth Officer.

Cobas is reuniting with Luis Miguel Messianu, Founder, CCO, and President of the boutique cultural shop. Messianu and Cobas previously worked together at Alma DDB, where she served as VP of Business Development and Agency Communications, overseeing the agency brand, awards process and business development. During her tenure there, the multicultural agency won over 20 pieces of business, including AORs and projects, was the top EFFIE North America agency, and was ranked #6 in the country on the 2022 Ad Age A-List.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Michelle once again. I could not think of a better person with the smarts, the mindset, and the drive to take MEL to new heights,” Messianu said.

Following her work at Alma, Cobas worked on a contract basis with several agencies, then joining THIRD EAR. There, as Senior Vice President of Agency Growth, she led the effort to reposition the agency and played a pivotal role in adding Nissan, INFINITI and others to the client roster.

“We are excited and honored to bring Michelle onto the growing MEL team,” said Pedro Lerma, Founder & CEO of LERMA/ and MEL CEO. “Her expertise, ingenuity, and savvy perspective coupled with her incomparable collaboration experience with Luis Miguel will surely be a dynamic combination for the agency’s future.”

Cobas has previously held business development and leadership roles at several agencies, such as DAVID the Agency, where she worked with MEL Executive Creative Director Danny Alvarez on Burger King and KraftHeinz, as well as Leo Burnett, Geometry, and Deutsch LA.