Our Management
Maria Luisa Francoli Plaza
Global CEO MPG
Maria Luisa is a truly revolutionizing figure in the advertising industry. Currently the global CEO 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 U.S.
In 2003, Maria Luisa was appointed CEO of what was then known as the Media Planning network, the largest division of MPG, and was later named Global CEO of MPG in 2006, tasked with driving profitable and sustainable growth for clients and, as a result, MPG. Soon after being named Global CEO, Maria Luisa relocated to the U.S. 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: Eurobest, Festival of Media, Global Retail Conference, Cannes, 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 Cannes Media Lions in the U.S. MPG Mexico was named Agency of the Year at the 2010 Festival of Media, marking the first time any Latin American agency has ever received such an accolade; MPG Canada has doubled its operations; MPG U.S. was awarded “Agency of the Year” by MediaPost’s MEDIA magazine for 2009 and again in 2010.
