Paola Nannelli named CEO of Pulse Advertising

Pulse Advertising has named Paola Nannelli as Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2026. She succeeds co-founders Chris and Lara, who established the influencer marketing agency in 2014 and will remain as shareholders to support the agency’s strategic direction.

Building enterprise expertise

Since joining Pulse Advertising in 2019, Paola has grown the enterprise client roster to include Apple, BlackRock, and Nestlé, most recently serving as Chief Sales Officer. She initially built the agency’s Italian operations before expanding her remit to global client development across the agency’s 11 international locations.

“Social media demands partners who can deliver at pace and at scale,” Paola said. “I’m grateful to Chris and Lara for this opportunity and excited to keep Pulse Advertising as the partner brands choose when they want to win on social, globally.”

Founders transition to shareholder roles

Chris and Lara are stepping back from day-to-day operations while continuing to contribute to the company’s vision and direction. The agency remains independent of outside investors, allowing Pulse to maintain its focus on platform partnerships and social commerce expertise.

Chris expressed confidence in the transition: “Paola is the right person to take over Pulse Advertising, having built our Italian operations originally, and more recently delivering client excellence as CSO. We are excited for this next chapter!”

Lara emphasized the agency’s performance-driven culture: “Leadership at Pulse has never been about titles – it’s about impact. Paola has earned this moment, and I couldn’t be more confident in where she’ll take the agency next.”

Leading social commerce transformation

The leadership transition comes as social platforms increasingly prioritize shopping features and shoppable content. With more than 125 employees and official partnerships with Meta, TikTok, and Google, Pulse is positioned at the intersection of creator partnerships and commerce infrastructure. These direct platform relationships provide early access to new features, beta programs, and priority support that help brands navigate the shift from social awareness to social selling.

As social media continues to reshape how brands connect with consumers, we remain committed to being the partner that turns platform evolution into measurable business transformation. The agency’s independent structure and specialized focus on influencer marketing and social commerce position it to lead brands through the continued convergence of content and commerce.