DHR Global Recruits Chief Marketing and Brand Officer for the Atlantic Coast Conference
November 11, 2025 – Talent advisory firm DHR Global has recruited Marques E. Zak as the first chief marketing and brand officer of the Atlantic Coast Conference. This marks a significant step in the conference’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its brand and expand fan engagement. “Marques is a proven marketing innovator whose leadership has consistently brought brands closer to their audiences in authentic and impactful ways,” said ACC commissioner Jim Phillips. “His vision and experience will be invaluable as we continue to elevate the ACC brand, celebrate our student-athletes, and deepen engagement across our 18 member institutions.”
Mr. Zak joins the ACC from American Express, where he served as head of multicultural marketing and launched the company’s first enterprise-wide multicultural marketing strategy, building campaigns and partnerships that deepened relevance with Gen Z and millennial audiences. He was recognized for his work, including induction into the 2024 AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement. Previously, Mr. Zak held senior leadership roles at PepsiCo, guiding brand strategy and execution for a $1.2 billion Frito-Lay North America business unit. He began his career as a strategy consultant at Deloitte, specializing in M&A strategy and integration.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Zak is an active industry and community leader. He serves on the Cornell University Council, is co-chair of the Alvin Ailey Young Patrons Circle, and is an inaugural member of the ADCOLOR Leaders advisory board.
In this newly created role, Mr. Zak will set and execute the ACC’s marketing and brand strategy, overseeing all initiatives across digital, social, and live experiences to strengthen fan engagement and broaden the conference’s reach, reputation and visibility. He will report directly to the commissioner and serve on the ACC’s executive staff, contributing to the strategic vision of the conference.
“I am honored to join commissioner Phillips and his team as the ACC’s first chief marketing and brand officer,” said Mr. Zak. “The ACC has a proud tradition of excellence on and off the field, and I look forward to working with our member institutions to celebrate our student-athletes and engage fans in new and meaningful ways.”
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Founded in 1953, the ACC is composed primarily of universities located along the East Coast, with a reputation for both athletic excellence and academic prestige.
Related: DHR Assists Temple University with Head Football Coach Search
Since 1989, DHR Global has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 50 wholly owned offices spanning the globe. The firm’s consultants specialize in all industries and functions, providing senior-level executive search, management assessment, and succession planning services.
Leading Sports Practice
DHR’s sports practice is a global specialty for the firm with capabilities on six continents across all sports-related organizations. These range from Fortune 500 companies and professional sports teams to public and private university athletics. The firm has overseen searches for the University of Pittsburgh, Colorado State University, Fresno State University, San Jose State, Kansas, Syracuse, and Quinnipiac University, among others.
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Glenn Sugiyama is managing partner, global sports practice and North American marketing committee member. Since 2004, he has been placing talent in professional sports organizations and for the top academic institutions in the U.S. and around the world, including senior sports executives and head coaches. He is based in Chicago. Mr. Sugiyama’s past searches include the 2006 Stanford football search that landed Jim Harbaugh. He assisted Purdue in hiring former Cardinal Jeff Brohm as its football coach and Florida State University (FSU) in an athletic director search that saw former University of Louisville AD Vince Tyra become a candidate before FSU hired Seminole Boosters CEO Michael Alford.
Related: DHR Global Recruits Head Baseball Coach for Northwestern University
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
