Maria Devereux has been promoted to executive creative director at Colenso BBDO.

This is just one of the jewels in her crown after returning to Colenso BBDO in 2016. In 2019, she was internationally recognised by the AdWeek Top Creative 100, as was Colenso CCO, Levi Slavin. In 2018, she led the team behind the agency’s second most awarded campaign ever, Pedigree SelfieSTIX.

Devereux first worked at Colenso from 2002 to 2008, before leaving to join Taxi in Canada. She returned to New Zealand at the end of 2011 to become a creative director at Y&R, and moved to Special Group on 2014.

In 2016, she returned to Colenso as creative group head. The Kiwi-born creative has collected more than 100 international awards for her work at Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, The Webby Awards, Spikes Asia and numerous local shows. In 2019, she was invited to judge at D&AD, joining the panel on the experiential jury. This year, Devereux will continue to lead the creative output on Mars, DB Breweries, Bank of New Zealand and IAG.

Levi Slavin commented, “With more and more clients transitioning to agile models, we have to fundamentally change how we operate as an industry. In Colenso’s case, this means providing greater access to the best creative thinkers and leaders. And Maria is exactly that. We are beyond thrilled to have Maria join the exec team and help lead our agency into its next era.”

Devereux added, “Things are rapidly changing and I’m excited by the opportunity to influence both the work we do and the way we get to great work.”