Currently the global chief executive of MPG and Havas Media
North America, Maria Luisa has served many roles at MPG since first
joining as the corporate development manager in 1993, responsible
for the company's geographical and business diversification. Thanks
to Maria Luisa, in 1995, MPG became the first media agency
worldwide to receive the ISO 9002 certification.
In 1997, Maria Luisa combined her extensive background and her
instincts about the future of the industry to create Media
Contacts, a digital agency within Havas Media, which is now a
leading global interactive media network. She began first by
developing the interactive marketing capabilities of the company,
and then developing it into a network across Europe, Latin America
and the US.
In 2003, Maria Luisa was appointed chief executive of what was
then known as the Media Planning network, the largest division of
MPG, and was later named global chief executive of MPG in 2006,
tasked with driving profitable and sustainable growth for clients
and, as a result, MPG. Soon after being named global chief
executive, Maria Luisa relocated to the US from Spain.
Maria Luisa contributes large amounts of time and effort to major
industry events and awards festivals, both as a juror and speaker,
including: Cannes, Eurobest, The Festival of Media, Global Retail
Conference, AAAAs and Advertising Week. She is also a charter
member of the IAB Agency Advisory Board and is on the board of
directors of the Ad Council.
Maria Luisa was named a Working Mother of the Year by
Working Mother magazine and AWNY in 2010. Under her
leadership, MPG North America has set a creative and effective
precedent, collecting several 'firsts', including a coveted Gold
Cannes Media Lions in the US; MPG Mexico won the country's first
Cannes Lion and was named Agency of the Year at The Festival of
Media Global 2010, marking the first time any Latin American agency
has ever received such an accolade; MPG Canada has doubled its
operations; MPG UK was awarded 'Agency of the Year' by MediaPost's
MEDIA magazine from 2009-2011.