Code and Theory has lots of experience launching and rebranding publishers (Daily Beast, Vogue, and more recently, TechCrunch and Star Tribune. )  

Now the agency has tapped a practitioner—former Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Jessica Giles—who will lead its new Media Experience Practice, which is designed to help the publishing and legacy media industries navigate widely reported challenges in the current media landscape.   

According to the agency Giles will lead a team that will tackle the legacy media and publishing industries' biggest challenges. “This means imagining next-generation experiences that differentiate content, drive new types of monetization and engage communities in new ways,” that agency stated.   

While at Cosmopolitan, which she left last year, Giles is credited with leading the brand to reach its largest audience in history by modernizing its content, strategies and operations to engage new generations of consumers.   

She also built first-to-market platforms and digital products with partners like OpenAI and Google. She was named Adweek’s Editor of the Year in 2019.    

Previously, she oversaw the digital transformation of Marie Claire and played a key role in the evolution of Teen Vogue and Glamour.  

For more than two decades Code and Theory has helped media companies and publishers navigate transitions amid changing market conditions. During recent elections, for example, the agency helped NBC bring its “Big Board” to life. It also reimagined CNN’s Magic Wall and developed an AI tool called ContextLens on RealClearPolling. 

Commenting on the hire, Dan Gardner, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Code and Theory, stated, “Media brands can no longer afford to lag in innovation—they must be the architects of their entire ecosystems. This shift demands ownership of distribution, monetization and, most importantly, creativity. The days of simply 'creating content' are long gone. What better way to amplify the value of what Code and Theory offers than by partnering with an industry powerhouse and unrivaled leader like Jessica?"