DDB, part of Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC), has named industry veteran John McCarthy as president of its San Francisco office. McCarthy will report directly to Paul Gunning, president and COO of DDB U.S.
In his new role, McCarthy will spearhead DDB’s growth on the West Coast. Working in partnership with executive creative director Ben Wolan, McCarthy will oversee DDB San Francisco’s client roster, which spans the social good, utilities, financial, and technology sectors, plus the agency’s talented team of creative thinkers.
McCarthy has led some of the world’s most iconic brands through moments of critical transformation. From global repositioning to digital innovation, he has spearheaded efforts for Google, Coca-Cola, Nike, PlayStation, Goldman Sachs, GE, Chanel, State Farm, Home Depot, and the United Nations. Most recently, McCarthy was sr. VP of strategy for experience design and innovation agency YML. Before YML, McCarthy was general manager for Johannes Leonardo. While there, he led the team to deliver game-changing solutions across a wide range of experiences and touchpoints, including the inaugural Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Mobile with their work for Google. Previously, McCarthy also led strategic initiatives at JWT, as well as corporate social responsibility efforts for Qualcomm.
McCarthy said, “The team assembled in San Francisco is ambitious, optimistic and ridiculously talented. I’m excited to partner with Ben and Paul to unlock new paths for growth and innovation. What better place than the epicenter of disruption to shape the next generation agency? Who better to define the future of creativity than the iconic agency responsible for leading its first revolution?”
McCarthy’s appointment further builds out the creative vision Wendy Clark (CEO, DDB Worldwide and Ari Weiss (CCO, DDB North America) have for DDB in the U.S. McCarthy joins the network soon after the influx of major new business, such as DDB’s Army win in Chicago.
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More