Crispin Strengthens Creative Leadership in North America Amid Agency Turnaround

Crispin announced that following a number of account wins and expansions, the integrated shop welcomes chief creative officer Steve Denekas. Steve will report to Maggie Malek, who has been elevated to CEO after stepping into the role as the regional president one year ago.

“We set out on a journey last April to transform Crispin from just another creative agency to a place clients and people come to for something greater. Today, as CEO, I am intentionally building a team and culture that supports that vision,” Maggie said. “Steve is the real deal and cares deeply about the people, the culture, and the work. He is already bringing magic to our creative product and growing client roster.”

Maggie joined Crispin in April 2023 following the combination of award-winning Stagwell agencies under the Crispin banner to meet the needs of the modern brand CMO. Prior, she was CEO of Houston based MMI Agency where she accelerated into the C-Suite in just eight years. Under her leadership, the integrated creative agency saw industry-defying growth, client, and staff retention, and was even named a Best Place to Work. Maggie prides herself on her untraditional path into the creative industry. As a U.S. Army veteran, she brings a unique lens to the way she approaches both integrated storytelling and business leadership.

Steve comes to Crispin from BASIC/DEPT® and DEPT® where he led creative teams as chief creative officer and global SVP, respectively. Self-taught, Steve fell into advertising when his partner saved him from the grips of the Kinko's colour copier to become the mount room guy for BBDO. That’s where he learned what advertising was, what good design looked like, and how kindness can bring out the best in creative teams. Lessons he’d then bring to the studio of Wieden+Kennedy and later Stagwell company, Instrument. Steve has made a career designing iconic campaigns for brands like Levi's®, Nike, and Dodge, to name a few. His mission is simple, to make work that creates legacies.

“The first brief from Maggie was to define the next 20 years of advertising. Crispin redefined great advertising for the last 20 years, and we are going to invent for the next 20,” Steve said. “This moment is about honouring legacy and throwing away the bullshit. Advertising is different today, and it will be different tomorrow.”

These appointments come as the integrated creative agency has strengthened its portfolio adding six new client partners in 2024 alone including Fannie Mae, Samsung, and Georgia Pacific. In addition, 15% of existing clients have expanded their remits to include multiple capabilities across creator and influencer, media, branded entertainment and more. This includes expanded remits with Nature’s Sunshine in creative, Galen College of Nursing from media to also include creative, and with P&G added new categories and work in content and creator.