Global creative consultancy Lippincott appoints Michael D’Esopo as President and next CEO

New York, New York (May 9, 2024) – Lippincott, a global creative consultancy, announced today that Michael D’Esopo, Director of Brand Strategy, will become President of the company and its future CEO. Rick Wise, current CEO, will transition into a new role as Chairman of Lippincott in the next year.

Lippincott recently celebrated its 80th birthday, along with an incredible period of global growth under its current leadership. Earlier this year, the firm underwent an intensive search to appoint its next leader, spurred by Wise’s decision to shift focus to primarily advancing the firm’s relationships with its most senior clients.

“Our priority has always been strategic evolution—to stay ahead of client needs and be the best workplace possible for our people,” said Wise. “Increasingly, senior marketing leaders across industries are asking us to help them face a broader range of challenges. Michael’s deep knowledge of Lippincott’s business and expertise in advising clients has uniquely positioned him to help Lippincott address those needs and nurture our talent as President and future CEO.”

D’Esopo has worn many critical hats during his 21 years at Lippincott, executing on the full slate of the firm’s capabilities and leading interdisciplinary project teams. As Director of Brand Strategy, he’s been an integral part of Lippincott’s leadership team, and has deep experience as a practitioner across strategy, customer analytics, experience innovation, brand activation and beyond. Over the next year, D’Esopo will work closely with Lippincott’s management team to set a foundation for success as he assumes the role of CEO.

“Working with Rick throughout the 15 years of his tenure at Lippincott has been a masterclass in strategic growth,” said D’Esopo. “I’m incredibly honored and excited for this new role and am looking forward to engaging with clients and working with teams across the firm to set the agenda for our next chapter.”

Nick Studer, CEO of Oliver Wyman, the firm’s parent company, worked hand in hand with Lippincott’s management team on the process. Of the appointment, he said: “Michael will help facilitate our ongoing goal to have Lippincott be even more connected with the rest of Oliver Wyman, helping our clients benefit from all that we have to offer. We’re looking forward to Lippincott’s next chapter, and are grateful to Rick for all he has achieved for our combined companies.”

Lippincott is a global creative consultancy. With a passion for solving our client’s toughest challenges, we create, grow and transform brands to define industries and transcend categories. To do so, we focus on six key areas: growth strategy, brand building, experience design, marketing strategy, creative communications and activation. A pioneer since 1943, we have shaped some of the world’s most iconic brands and experiences. From Coca-Cola to Samsung and Starbucks to Delta, our work drives growth and adds meaning to customers’ lives. As the brand and innovation experts of Oliver Wyman, we integrate deep industry, risk and operational expertise to deliver end-to-end solutions. Together, we create new possibilities for our clients to thrive in the future.