LOS ANGELES — Mary Osako, a former Activision and Amazon comms leader, has returned to her alma mater UCLA as vice chancellor for strategic communications.

In the newly created role, Osako will oversee UCLA’s marketing, media relations, executive communications, public outreach and special events and protocol units. UCLA created a new strategic communications division last year. The function used to operate under external affairs.

Osako has spent most of the last two years as a partner and chief operating officer at the communications firm Haven Tower Group. She previously spent three years as Activision Blizzard’s chief communications officer and led Amazon’s global corporate communications for five years before that.

Chancellor Gene Block said Osako’s broad skill set and track record will be critical assets to the campus’s communications efforts.

“Mary is a visionary leader who has assembled and led successful teams at some of the world’s most innovative and successful companies,” he said. “Her impressive background and experience will help us effectively tell UCLA’s story in new and compelling ways that convey the depth and breadth of all the work we do here.”