Renée Mellas

Administrative Assistant. Account Executive. Leader. Entrepreneur. President. Renée has worn many hats over the course of her 25+ years career, but the thread that runs through it all is a desire to take on brands’ biggest challenges—and so far, she has conquered just about them all.

As President of AREA 23 and AREA 23 on Hudson, and a co-founder of 2 start-up agencies (Wishbone and Calcium), Renée has tackled nearly every therapeutic category in markets domestic and global, professional and consumer. And it has informed what she sees as a core part of the AREA 23 cocktail—network resources with start-up accountability.

This mindset has been cultivated across a gamut of experiences, including management of smaller brands like Welchol, as well as vast blockbusters such as Shingrix, and everything in between. And if “management” stands out to you, good. It’s a core part of her philosophy—don’t just “service” brands, manage them; as if they were your own.

The other core tenet of her philosophy is that creativity is the #1 difference maker agencies can offer clients. And it is this synergy between her and her partner, Chief Creative Officer Tim Hawkey, that unites AREA 23 in purpose to a degree that is seldom seen.

The results speak for themselves. Growth from $17 million to $117 million. From 70 employees to 475. Recognition as the #1 Healthcare agency in the world in 2018, Med Ad News Most Creative Agency for 3 years running, and Cannes Lions Agency of the Year in 2017.

Prior to her feats in advertising, Renée was born in the Bronx and attended Iona College via an athletic scholarship to play Division 1 soccer. She ultimately received a BS in communications and an MS in journalism and PR. Renée now resides in Connecticut with her 2 daughters aged 12 and 14 years, 2 dogs, 2 cats… and 1 husband.