Laura Desmond

One of the youngest CEOs to lead a global marketing services company, Laura Desmond commands a staff of nearly 6,200 team members across 110 offices around the world, partnering with leading brands including The Coca-Cola Company, Oracle, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, and Walmart.

In addition to her recent post as Global Chief Executive of SMG, Desmond has worn many hats including CEO of SMG Latin America, CEO of the network’s largest operation, MediaVest USA, and interim Media Services Director for General Motors. Her influence extends beyond these roles, as she actively serves on the board of directors for several organizations, strengthening her expertise and connections within the industry.

Under Desmond’s leadership, SMG has been recognized as “Media Agency of the Year” at Dubai Lynx (2009 and 2010) and “Network of the Year” at the Festival of Media (2009). Her personal accolades include “Ad Woman of the Year” (AWNY, 2009) and a feature in Forbes as one of the world’s most powerful women (2008). This year, she was the President of the Cannes Media Jury. SMG is ranked #1 according to Adage and was the most celebrated Global Media Network this year at the Cannes Advertising Festival. Desmond's contributions to the advertising world have been acknowledged through numerous industry awards.