After 15 years leading Cirque du Soleil’s marketing efforts, most recently as global CMO, Mario D’Amico is heading south of the border for a new gig.

D’Amico joins The Nature Conservancy, an organization dedicated to land and water conservation, as its new CMO. In his new position, based out of Arlington, Virginia, he’ll lead all digital and corporate marketing, communications, publishing and membership.

In his role at Cirque, D’Amico helped grow the Montreal-based circus act worldwide, growing the brand’s awareness among the target audience by 80%, according to a release, as well as expanding the brand into new territories, including the Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern and Australian markets. In 2008, he was named one of strategy’s Marketers of the Year for his expansion work and unique marketing efforts.

Prior to Cirque, D’Amico worked at agencies including Publicis/BCP as VP, managing director, and Scali, McCabe, Sloves Canada as account supervisor, working with clients including Apple, Labatt and RBC.