Debra is currently the Chief Talent Officer for Johannes Leonardo. Previously to this she was the Joint CEO of Grace Blue North America where she was responsible for leading the team in New York, defining the strategic direction of the business, and managing key relationships.
During Debra’s almost twenty years in advertising, she was privileged to work exclusively with founder-led, creative agencies.
Debra started in advertising at a regional agency in Atlanta. She then helped The Richards Group create an in-house presence for The Home Depot.
In 2006, she joined Mother where she spent almost seven years managing global brands and leading the account leadership group. Debra embraced Mother’s belief that you can make great work, have fun, and as a by-product of the first two, make a good living.
In 2012, Grace Blue ‘flipped’ Debra from candidate to Partner when expanding its business to New York. Debra takes great satisfaction from knowing that her intervention changes the course of people’s lives. Transcending this, by identifying the top talent and matching them with the best organizations, she influences the direction of the industry. This is both a huge responsibility and a great privilege.
Away from Grace Blue, Debra sits on the AAF’s Mosaic Council, an industry-leading think-tank on diversity and inclusion. In her spare time, she pursues her quest to see as much of the world as possible.
