Pete Johnson is joining McCann’s New York office as EVP, global executive creative director. He will work hand-in-hand with Shayne Millington and Pierre Lipton, co-chief creative officers, McCann New York.
Johnson joins McCann after spending five-plus years as an ECD at Deutsch, New York and more than four years at Arnold, Boston where he created iconic work for clients such as Progressive, Reebok, Sony, Booking.com and Jack Daniel’s to name a few. Prior to Deutsch and Arnold, Johnson held senior creative roles at DigitasLBi and Tribal DDB.
“We’re thrilled to be able to add a senior creative with the talent, intelligence and taste, and such a deep understanding of emotional truth, that Pete has,” shared Millington and Lipton in a joint statement. “Pete’s writing spans an impressively wide range of categories and genres and he has a unique ability to tap into the unique voice that expresses the soul of each brand he touches.”
Johnson’s appointment continues the expansion of McCann New York’s creative operations that was announced in November. At the time, Millington and Lipton were elevated to co-CCOs at McCann New York, overseeing creative on all accounts, including Microsoft and Mastercard. Millington and Lipton assumed these roles after Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy were elevated to co-CCOs of McCann North America. McCann at the time also promoted two more senior creatives, Caprice Yu and Cristina Rodriguez Reina, to global executive creative directors.
“McCann New York has been producing some of the smartest, most thoughtful creative work in the world, and they have an amazing roster of innovative, risk-taking clients, so I am just thrilled to be able to join the team here,” said Johnson.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More