M+C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment Announces New U.S. Leadership Team

Apr. 08, 2025

M&C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment (S+E), the award-winning global creative communications agency, today announced the appointment of a new leadership team as it expands its investment in the U.S.

Val Middleton, former Head of Marketing for Curry Brand at Under Armour joins as Executive Vice President for Sport, leading sports marketing and athlete partnerships; Danielle Mileno, who has served in senior level communications positions at Marriott International, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Sonesta International Hotels, will be named Managing Director and Head of Consumer PR; Alex Osorio, who helped launch S+E’s Creator Marketing Division, will be promoted to Managing Director of Influencer Engagement and Culture. They will report to Global CEO of M+C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment Robin Clarke.

The new team will focus on brand consulting and marcomms with specific focus on IP partnerships, talent & creator marketing, consumer PR and growing M+C Saatchi North America’s footprint in the wider sport and entertainment arena.

M+C Saatchi North America CEO Nadja Bellan-White said:

"This expansion is part of our growth strategy in North America, where we are adding the kind of standout talent that will enable us to leverage M+C’s vast network of specialists to create nimble, culture-forward solutions to break through this complex landscape. The lines between sports, culture, hospitality  and entertainment have never been more blurred, and Robin is building a team that can guide brands and ensure they align themselves with the talent that will speak to their audiences."

 

Clarke said:

“This strategic expansion comes at the beginning of a new era for our business and one that reflects the ever increasing influence and role that IP plays in the way brands successfully communicate with their audiences. We are also consciously doubling down on partnerships tied to big events, including sports, with the FIFA Men’s World Cup coming to North America next year ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil 2027 and the Summer Olympics in LA in 2028. Val, Alex and Danielle are going to help elevate M+C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment to be the go-to agency for brands looking to secure the right kinds of partnerships across a range of sectors.”

 

Middleton brings extensive experience in her previous role heading the Curry Brand globally, and most recently working directly with athlete enterprises as EVP of Athlete Partnerships and Digital Marketing at SC30. She was also the former CBO of Virtue Labs, Founding Partner of West Venture Studios and is the Digital Influence and Content board chair for VCU’s Brandcenter. She has led campaigns, brokered collaborations for major sports brands, and managed Curry's business partnerships, developing award-winning marketing initiatives for global clients.

Mileno has 20 years experience as a global communications and PR leader in the hospitality and lifestyle industry. She most recently served as Head of Consumer PR at Sonesta International Hotels, and prior to that she led Global Communications and Portfolio Marketing for 19 of Marriott International’s 30 brands. She has a proven track record of creating and implementing holistic, 360-degree global strategies that blend traditional public relations with creative influencer strategies, authentic partnerships, and thoughtful experiential activations. She has spearheaded high-profile sports partnerships with the NFL, MLB, Manchester United, and the US Open while also leveraging cultural moments and social trends to amplify brand awareness.

During her three-year tenure at S+E, Osorio built, launched, and led the creator marketing practice, helping to secure significant wins with brands like Jaguar Land Rover, Samsonite, Marriott Bonvoy, and The New York Times. Before joining M+C Saatchi, she served as the Global Vice President of Communications & Marketing at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (ifaw), where she co-led a rebrand and digital transformation, overseeing its implementation in seven languages across forty international markets. She also co-founded a business and brand consultancy that worked with ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs to unlock growth and revenue, working with brands like Kroger and Genworth Financial. Prior, she led communications and marketing teams at agencies like WE Communications and a subsidiary of McCann.

M&C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment has worked with some of the world’s leading brands, including the NFL, McDonald’s, Marriott,  Oakley, Coca-Cola, Heineken, adidas and many others.