Sumeru names Lisa Buckley as first chief growth officer

Sumeru US has appointed Lisa Buckley as its first chief growth officer as the company expands its enterprise digital transformation business and AI-focused services. The move is meant to sharpen growth strategy, brand positioning and go-to-market efforts for clients navigating the AI era.

Why it matters: - Sumeru US is adding a dedicated growth leader as it pushes deeper into enterprise digital transformation. - The appointment is designed to help the company translate its technical capabilities into a clearer AI-era growth story. - The role also links growth strategy with operations as Sumeru expands in digital customer experience, Agentic AI and cybersecurity.

What happened: - Sumeru US appointed Lisa Buckley as its first-ever chief growth officer. - The announcement came Aug. 17, 2026. - Buckley will lead enterprise growth strategy, brand positioning and go-to-market planning. - Buckley will also have broader operational leadership responsibilities across the business. - Buckley is based in Los Angeles and will work with Sumeru leadership across the U.S. and global offices.

The details: - Sumeru US is the digital transformation and consultancy arm of Sumeru Group, which was founded in 2002. - Sumeru US has spent the past seven years building its digital transformation practice for enterprise clients. - The company is expanding its Digital Customer Experience, Agentic AI and Cybersecurity practices. - Buckley brings more than 20 years of experience in agency growth, operations and new business leadership. - Buckley helped build VaynerMedia. - Buckley most recently helped scale VaynerMedia’s west coast business to more than 8x revenue in under three years. - That period also included nearly 70% new business growth. - Earlier in her career, Buckley held senior roles at WPP and Grey in London, Paris and the U.S. - Buckley recently completed an executive program at Imperial College Business School focused on Generative AI, Agentic AI and AI ethics and governance. - Buckley’s remit includes partnering with leaders in client delivery, talent, operations and marketing to align the business around one growth agenda. - Sumeru’s expanding Agentic AI & Innovation practice includes AI Concierge offerings and Salesforce Agentforce implementations. - Sumeru also continues to offer Digital Customer Experience, Talent Augmentation and Cybersecurity services. - Sumeru US has worked with enterprise clients including Gap, Ariat, Intel and McAfee. - Sumeru Group operates across four continents. - The company directs part of its profits to humanitarian causes, including the Art of Living Foundation and the International Association for Human Values. - More information is available at sumeru.us.

Between the lines: - The hire signals that Sumeru wants growth leadership that blends brand, sales and operations rather than treating them as separate functions. - Buckley’s background in agency scaling suggests Sumeru is leaning on a leader experienced in turning services expertise into revenue growth. - The AI training on Buckley’s resume fits Sumeru’s push to position itself around agentic AI and enterprise transformation.

What's next: - Buckley is expected to help sharpen how Sumeru tells its story to enterprise buyers. - Sumeru will likely continue expanding its AI and cybersecurity offerings as it builds on its existing client base. - Buckley will work with the leadership team to align the company around a unified growth agenda as the business scales.

The bottom line: - Sumeru is betting that a first chief growth officer can help turn its enterprise credibility and AI capabilities into faster growth.