Debbie Ellison
Debbie Ellison
Debbie Ellison stands at the forefront of brand transformation, with over two decades of experience driving innovation at the intersection of technology and marketing. As of March 2025, she serves as EMEA CEO of Croud, a global full-service digital marketing agency, where she leads with a clear mandate: to scale innovation, inspire performance, and deliver meaningful results for clients in a rapidly evolving, connected digital landscape.
Ellison’s career reflects a deep commitment to harnessing emerging technologies to create long-term business value. In her previous roles, she was instrumental in guiding complex strategies, linking a suite of capabilities to deliver value and impact for some of the world’s most recognized brands—work that has cemented her reputation as a progressive and impactful leader.
At Croud, she is building on this legacy, leveraging the agency’s proprietary tools and its distinctive Croudie network to unlock new growth opportunities across the EMEA region. Her focus extends beyond technology to the people behind it—cultivating inclusive, high-performing teams that are empowered to innovate and deliver with purpose.
Debbie Ellison’s leadership is driven by a bold vision: to not only adapt to change but to shape it—setting new standards for how agencies can partner with clients to create future-ready, data-informed strategies in an ever-changing, digital-first world.
Debbie launched Global Gen Z research across 5 cities in markets that have some of the fastest growing economies and highest Gen Z populations, giving clients an insight into how this powerful demographic places such importance on the purpose and values of brands and its influence on their buying behaviour.
She also launched the UK Inclusion Experience (IX), a consultancy practice that help brands develop more inclusive communications connected with inclusive business transformation, and boasts global clients such as InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.
She most recently concepted and launched The Home of Connected Brands. Situated in the WPP Sea Containers UK campus and covering over 300m², the space is a fully immersive, physical manifestation of the agency belief that connected brands are more powerful brands. This environment helps clients reimagine what it takes to build successful brands today through best-in-class brand, customer and creative commerce experiences.
Debbie’s innovation and professional leadership has landed the following recognition:
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2024 Eurobest President, Creative Commerce - Brand Experience & Activation - Glass: The Award for Change
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2024 2 x Cannes Silver winners for Sound Scales, Baileys, Diageo
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2023 Cannes Jury, Creative Commerce Lions
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2023 Oystercatchers Champion for Change / Industry Influencer (WINNER)
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2023 EMpower /Yahoo Finance Ethnic Minority Role Model List
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2022 Hewlett Packard Enterprise: Named a global 100 Chief Digital Officer
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2022 Cannes Shortlist Judge, Mobile Lions
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2022 EMpower /Yahoo Finance Ethnic Minority Role Model List
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2021 EMpower /Yahoo Finance Ethnic Minority Role Model List: Named in Top 5
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2020 Ethnicity Awards: Shortlisted, Inspirational Leader
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2020 EMpower /Yahoo Finance Ethnic Minority Role Model List
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2019 Women in Marketing Global Awards: Named Industry Shaper
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2016 Campaign/IPA Woman of the Tomorrow: Technology & Innovation