Virginia Devlin

Background

About Virginia Devlin

Before retiring in 2024, Virginia Devlin was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Current Global, a midsized communications agency. She now serves as a Senior Counselor at Prosper Group, helping agency CEOs achieve their business goals.An ace at operations, active client counselor, and sought out mentor, Virginia grew the agency she launched in 2006 to over 200 team members with major operations around the world and expertise in corporate, consumer, healthcare and technology marketing. Her leadership helped Current land on many “best of” lists and win dozens of Cannes Lions, Effies, PRWeek, PRovoke Media, PRSA, and other industry awards.Recognized by Fast Company as a World Changing Idea, Virginia led thought leadership for Accessible by Design, the agency’s first-to-market commitment that all communication and content meet the highest accessibility standards for those with sight, hearing, and cognitive disabilities. A frequent speaker on accessible communications, she has helped educate the industry while promoting disability inclusion through fireside chats, panels, and webinars for the Female Quotient Equality Lounge at Cannes, Arthur Page Society, Disability:IN, Institute for Public Relations, PR Council, PR Leadership Forum, PRSA College of Fellows, and more.Virginia’s honors include the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago; 2024 Innovator Award from the Northern Star Alumni Association at Northern Illinois University; 2024 Communication Leaders of Chicago Career Service Award; 2023 PRWeek Outstanding Agency Professional finalist; 2022 PRSA Chicago Professional of the Year; 2022 PRWeek Most Purposeful Agency Leader finalist; 2021 PRWeek Woman of Distinction; 2021 Women in Marketing Change Maker Award – Agency; and 2020 Gold Stevie Award for Most Innovative Woman of the Year – Advertising, Marketing & PR. Her board experience includes the Institute for Public Relations, PR Council, Public Relations Society of America Chicago chapter, and non-profit school Ryan Banks Academy. She has judged various industry award competitions including the CLIO, PRWeek Global, PRWeek North America, SABRE North America, and DRUM awards.