Maree Prendergast is Global Chief People Officer at VML, where she is responsible for leading talent and career management programs across the agency globally. She and her team also lead VML's inclusion and diversity initiatives within the organization that drive agency culture.

Maree brings 25 years of experience and leadership to VML in talent management, human resources, human capital consulting, executive recruitment, succession planning, and organizational design and development. She has held leadership roles in New York, Chicago, Paris and Sydney.

Prior to VML, Maree was Chief People Officer at Wunderman Thompson. She has also held global Chief Talent Officer roles at Publicis Sapient and Publicis One, and prior to that was Chief Talent Officer, North America for MSLGROUP.

Before entering the advertising industry, Maree worked at global human capital firms including Korn Ferry International as a partner to clients across multiple industries including professional services, technology, telecommunications, consumer packaged goods, consumer health, pharmaceuticals, commerce, public relations and digital marketing.

A native of Australia, Maree holds a B.A. degree in Modern Languages (Japanese & Media Studies) from the University of Canberra. She currently lives in New York but has lived in many different countries including South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and France. When she isn’t leading talent management of a global agency, you can find her at the hottest new Broadway show.