Marc Eckō, the streetwear pioneer who founded Complex in 2002, has rejoined the publisher as chief creative and innovation officer, marking his return to a brand he helped turn into a cornerstone of hip-hop and youth culture.
Eckō is joined by Ray Elias, who will serve as chief marketing officer. Both executives officially joined last week.
“There’s an opportunity now to create the ultimate destination—not just for storytelling and content, but also for access,” Eckō said. “We’re building a platform that can super-serve the next generation of talent, brands, and fans.”
The appointments arrive during a period of rapid transformation at Complex, which was acquired last year by commerce platform NTWRK.
Under the new ownership—which includes investors like Universal Music Group, Jimmy Iovine, Goldman Sachs, and Main Street Advisors—Complex has relaunched its print magazine, expanded internationally with ComplexCon, and set its sights on blending content, commerce, and experiences more seamlessly.
Eckō, who also cofounded ComplexCon, left the company after its 2016 sale to Verizon and Hearst, though he remained in an advisory capacity.
His new full-time role will focus on shaping a unified creative culture across the company’s media, events, and retail arms. To do so, he plans to modernize the user experience, better integrate backend technology like CMS and adtech with creative output, and introduce new AI tools to help both consumers and internal teams make smarter decisions.
Elias, meanwhile, brings more than 25 years of experience to his new role, including leadership positions at StubHub and HotelTonight. At Complex, he’ll oversee global brand, growth, and communications strategies, with a focus on consumer engagement across channels.
Expanding Complex commerce
Both hires reflect Complex’s broader ambitions to diversify its revenue streams and position itself as a commerce-first media brand.
Since relaunching its retail arm Complex Shop last year, the company has integrated shopping functionality across its content and events, expanding inventory to more than 100 brands and tastemakers. The new commerce engine is designed to deliver a personalized shopping experience and give Complex access to deeper audience data.