DDB Group Aotearoa NZ Managing Director Nikki McKelvie departs after 13 years with the Group

DDB Group Aotearoa managing director Nikki McKelvie has announced her departure after 13 years at the agency.

The move comes as part of a restructure, with McKelvie confirming the news in a personal LinkedIn post earlier this week. Reflecting on her time with the agency, she described the decision as the close of a meaningful chapter, writing: “After 13 unforgettable years at DDB Aotearoa – including the last four as Managing Director – I’m moving on.”

McKelvie, who has worked in the creative industry for nearly 30 years across agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi and Ogilvy, initially joined DDB in 2011 and was rose to Managing Director in early 2022. Over more than a decade, she helped lead the agency’s growth, creative reputation, and client partnerships — with DDB named Campaign Brief New Zealand Agency of the Year three times during her tenure. One of her proudest achievements, she says, was the creation of Takitoru — a Māori creative agency initiative within DDB that embeds Te Ao Māori into the work.

While she hasn’t announced her next move, McKelvie says she’s already engaging in new conversations and looking forward to collaborating on what she describes as “meaningful mahi.”

Want to leave a comment? Share your thoughts in the comments box below, making sure to include your full name and email address.