Franco announced the promotion of Tina Benvenuti-Sullivan to executive vice president and chief operating officer. She previously served as the firm’s senior vice president.
For more than 20 years, Benvenuti-Sullivan has cultivated her expertise in communications, branding and project management. Since joining Franco as an account manager in 2011, she has expanded the agency’s integrated communications capabilities to better serve Franco’s automotive, technology and consumer clients. Most notably, Benvenuti-Sullivan works with organizations like the Steel Market Development Institute to re-shape the image of steel in automotive applications by developing integrated programming and innovative activations to reach industry and consumer audiences across the country. She also works with innovative technology companies like Materialiseto position executives as North American thought leaders in the 3D printing industry and coordinated major fundraising events such as the PWC Grand Prixmiere presented by Chevrolet benefiting the Belle Isle Conservancy and additional projects that have made a lasting impact for her clients.
“Tina is an important part of our team, embracing our values, being a champion of our culture and furthering our vision and mission,” said Dan Ponder, CEO of Franco. “She has worked very hard over the past eight years to help the company achieve its performance goals and objectives, which include improved infrastructure, facilities and financial performance.”
In her new role as chief operating officer, Benvenuti-Sullivan will play a critical role in acquiring new talent to improve the agency’s future capabilities, while leading the operations side of the business. She’ll ensure early adoption of technology and processes that make the agency more effective and efficient in serving its clients. Benvenuti-Sullivan will also continue to set a high standard for her peers, constantly seeking new opportunities and helping her team members develop into more effective communicators. Among Franco’s staff of nearly 30 employees, Benvenuti-Sullivan is known as an advocate for leading with courage and integrity.
Prior to joining Franco, Benvenuti-Sullivan worked as a corporate communications manager for Chrysler Group LLC, a communications director for Automotive Youth Education Systems and a managing director for Eview 360. She has also served as an account supervisor at Bianchi Public Relations and publicity assistant at The Henry Ford. Benvenuti-Sullivan holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Leadership Detroit XXXVI.
“Tina’s continuous forward motion and persistence has helped guide our teams in earning consistent results for our clients,” said Tina Kozak, president of Franco. “She plays an integral role in seeking new opportunities for our agency—from new business development to growing our capabilities with team members that have skills that will take us into the future of communications. She is a huge proponent of adopting new processes and tools that help make our business better and produce more efficient work for our clients.”
