NEW YORK — DeVries Global, which is in midst of switching up its leadership structure, has named global creative intelligence leader Loretta Markevics as the agency’s first chief strategy & creative officer.
Markevics, who joined DeVries in 2015, is credited with building the agency’s global creative intelligence function into a unit that uses both creative and strategic thought in developing and executing campaigns. She was also instrumental in developing DeVries’ proprietary processes and strategies.
She will be based in New York and will report to North America regional managing director Jessica O’Callaghan.
“Loretta is a champion for the absolute relentless pursuit of the strongest idea that both elevates a brand and the category,” O’Callaghan said. “In her role as chief strategy and creative officer, we look forward to continued innovation and thought leadership.”
Markevics brings nearly 20 years of industry experience to the role. Before joining DeVries, she was a Porter Novelli executive VP responsible for global communication strategy on Hewlett Packard business & business development for the agency. She also held senior roles at McCann Erickson and Grey Group.
Her new appointment comes less than two months after Interpublic Group announced it was folding Golin agency Canvas Blue into DeVries Global, a move that eliminates the DeVries global CEO role currently held by Heidi Hovland and launched a larger restructuring.
The merged agency will operate under a regional leadership structure, prompting Hovland to exit at the end of the year. She has spent five years as DeVries’ global leader and will not be replaced.
In addition to O’Callaghan, the regional leadership team includes Andres Vejarano, regional managing director, APAC; and Helena Bloomer, regional managing director, EMEA.