About me

Debbi is the global chief creative officer at VML, a leading global agency named to the 2018, 2017 and 2016 Ad Age Agency A-List. She was recently honored on Adweek's Creative 100 and Business Insider's "30 Most Creative People in Advertising 2016" list.

Since joining VML in 2000, Debbi has fostered a collaborative creative environment that delivers innovative work driven by inspiring connections across the connected consumer experience for clients around the world, including Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Electrolux/Frigidaire, Ford, Gatorade, Kellogg, Mastercard, New Balance, PepsiCo, QuikTrip, and Wendy's. Her leadership has enabled VML to become one of the top global agencies, with 33 offices on six continents and more than 3,000 employees worldwide.

Debbi has served on international award show juries, including ANDY Awards, Art Directors Club (2018 jury chair), Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (2018 entertainment jury president), CLIO Awards (2016 digital jury chair) and One Show Interactive.

VML has experienced unprecedented award recognition under her leadership, earning accolades from top international shows. Most recently VML was awarded the Entertainment Agency of the Year for the second year in a row. In 2018 the agency also won 21 Lions, 62 shortlists earning top 10 rankings in the US, North America and globally. Other accolades include ANDY Awards, Art Directors Club, CLIO Awards, Effie Awards, Facebook Awards, London International Awards, New York Festivals, One Show, Spikes Asia, Webby Awards and more.

This year, Debbi was part of the founding group of female agency leaders who launched Time's Up/Advertising to address the industry's pervasive problems with sexual harassment and gender inequality. She was named one of "Ad Age's Women to Watch in 2014" and is a strong supporter of initiatives advancing women in creative leadership. This mindset contributed to VML being named one of the two first-ever 3% certified agencies in 2017.