In this edition of CV MIC (Marketers in Conversation), we chat with Vincent Nezzer, freshly promoted Vice President of Strategic Delivery at Avenue Z. With a career that spans content strategy, SEO, media planning, and now AI innovation, Vincent brings a thoughtful, refreshingly pragmatic approach to navigating the AI era — one that bridges experimentation with strategy, and tech with humanity.
AI Isn’t Coming. It’s Already Here.
The rise of AI-powered search engines isn’t on the horizon — it’s happening now. As Vincent puts it, platforms like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Perplexity are fundamentally changing how we find information, and Google’s AI Overviews are simply playing catch-up.
At Avenue Z, Vincent is helping brands shift away from outdated SEO models and toward a world where AI engines (not just search engines) demand more relevant, nuanced, and brand-forward content. That means restructuring services across content, PR, and technical optimization to meet the new rules of visibility.
His take?
Stop optimizing only for Google. Start thinking like a multi-platform strategist — the same way you’d diversify a paid social campaign across Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and more.
Embracing Change, Without the Panic
Yes, change is scary. But Vincent doesn’t make fear-based decisions, and he encourages brands to adopt the same mindset. The fear around AI mirrors the panic of “Mobilegeddon,” when Google made mobile optimization a ranking priority. Back then, Vincent helped brands turn that moment into business wins. Today, he’s doing the same with AI.
He encourages marketers to get ahead of the curve by treating AI as an opportunity, not an existential threat. That starts by experimenting, building internal knowledge, and crafting content that AI engines can actually surface, not just generic, top-of-funnel fluff.
Content That Connects (Still Matters)
Having started his career in content strategy, Vincent hasn’t forgotten the fundamentals. While much of the industry races toward AI optimization, he’s quick to remind us that the core principles haven’t changed: Content still needs to be clear, connected, and useful.
That means:
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Writing content that reflects your actual products and solves real problems.
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Prioritizing bottom- and mid-funnel content that gives people substance, not just surface-level search bait.
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Saying the quiet part out loud: it’s OK to give more away. Transparency builds trust, not brand erosion.
If your product content is so good that someone could replicate your entire business from one blog post? They were probably never your ideal customer.
Strategy First, Channels Second
Vincent’s elevation at Avenue Z marks a shift not just in title, but in agency direction. He’s leading the charge to create integrated service lines like “AI Optimization” — blending content, PR, and SEO into full-funnel strategies that work together, not in silos.
As he says, “We don’t want to be a vendor churning out more and more content. We want to be strategic partners.” And that means starting with the why, not the word count.
AI, With a Human Filter
Sure, Vincent’s knee-deep in AI. But he’s also quick to pump the brakes when hype gets ahead of substance. He’s not into over-reliance or losing creative voice to automation. His stance? Use AI to enhance your team, not replace it.
That goes for formatting trends, too. Overused em dashes and “rule of three” clichés? Let’s not lose sleep over it. What matters is whether your content is clear, conversational, and connects with real humans.
This conversation is just one of many we’re having with marketing leaders who are shaping strategy through real-life experience and big-picture thinking. If you’re navigating similar challenges or just want a better way to produce content that connects, you’ll want to keep an eye on the full CV MIC series.
And if you’re ready to explore how ClearVoice can support your content production efforts, connect with a content specialist today.
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