Deerfield Agency hired Sam Cannizzaro as its first chief creative officer, the company announced Thursday. 

Cannizzaro joins the 2023 MM+M Agency 100 honoree from Elevate Healthcare Marketing, where he held the post of EVP, executive creative director. At Elevate, Cannizzaro steered the company’s creative strategy across its pharma, biotech and medical device clients.

As chief creative officer, Cannizzaro will lead Deerfield Agency’s creative strategy and vision.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with members of the Deerfield leadership team for some time and have been impressed by both their work and their growth,” Cannizzaro said in a statement. “I’m excited to now join the leadership team and partner with my new colleagues to continue the legacy of delivering excellent creative and client service as we innovate.”

Prior to his time at Elevate, Cannizzaro worked at GSW Advertising, where he was EVP, executive creative director. During his time at GSW Advertising, he helped spearhead omnichannel campaigns, telehealth initiatives, immersive technologies and voice-based health assistants.

He also assisted in launching AstraZeneca’s digital detailing solutions after GSW Advertising was acquired by Blue Diesel.

In earlier roles in his career, Cannizzaro held positions including CX experience design lead and senior interactive art director.

Frank Burrell, managing partner at Deerfield Agency, noted in a statement that Cannizzaro would help bolster the agency’s design and technology offering, which have been at the “very core” of Deerfield Agency services from its inception and a significant driver of its growth.

“We are excited to now welcome Sam in this important new role to lead creative visioning forward for the agency,” Burrell said. “Sam is a seasoned creative strategist and leader with a proven track record of conceptualizing and orchestrating memorable brand and digital experiences and leading teams to deliver innovative solutions for clients.”

The hire comes after a busy 2022 for Deerfield, in which its staff headcount jumped from 88 in 2021 to 140 by the end of 2022. During that time, Deerfield acquired Verge Scientific Communications to strengthen its scientific and strategic capabilities

Revenue rose 40% over the course of the year, according to the MM+M Agency 100 revenue chart.