Tombras Elevates Denice Heyward to Chief Partnerships Officer

​Tombras has promoted Denice Heyward from SVP, director of business affairs to chief partnerships officer. Denice previously held roles at top agencies including R/GA, 72andSunny, and Mekanism.

As chief partnerships officer, Denice joins Tombras’ C-Suite. In her expanded role, she will leverage her global network and experience, spanning advertising, entertainment, and Grammy-winning work, to open new doors for the agency and its clients. With business affairs still under Denice's direction, she will now assume a broader strategic leadership role, charged with propelling the agency’s partnership agenda and driving transformative growth. Denice will collaborate closely with Tombras’ executive leadership to shape new business strategies and accelerate cross-divisional growth opportunities.

Denice is a nationally recognised business and legal affairs leader known for brokering high-impact collaborations and celebrity partnerships, like Walton Goggins, Frankie Muniz, Dolph Lundgren, Molly Shannon, Jimmy Garoppolo, Eric StoneStreet, and Retta.

One of the defining moments of her career was her work ahead of the National Museum of African American Music’s grand opening in Nashville, where she managed a highly complex rights-clearance effort – overseeing music licensing, navigating estate negotiations, securing permissions for iconic archival footage, and enlisting CeCe Winans as the museum’s voiceover talent.

Denice Heyward, chief partnerships officer, “Being able to expand the partnership work that has driven so much of our success is an incredible opportunity. From partnering with top-tier talent and global brands to building enduring, scalable partnership franchises, I’m energised by the opportunity to push creative boundaries and deliver standout campaigns across entertainment, technology, and lifestyle. On a personal level, this role reflects Tombras’ continued commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and increasing diversity, especially within the C-suite.”

This elevation formalises the strategic, breakthrough work she has already been driving, solidifying her role at the centre of Tombras’ most ambitious creative, cultural, and commercial initiatives.

As a Black woman, Denice remains deeply committed to expanding mentorship opportunities across the industry, particularly for black professionals, and her new role allows her to bring greater visibility and accessibility to that support. She is focused on creating pathways that help emerging talent rise, reinforcing the importance of earning opportunity and opening doors for others.

​Dooley Tombras, president of Tombras, “Denice is the best in the business at securing high-profile talent and forging industry-defining partnerships. This expanded role allows us to deepen our work in music, film, and culture – areas that will fuel our next chapter of growth. Her energy is infectious, and it brings out the best in every team she touches.”