Biography
John is a well known marketing leader, most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer of OMD USA. In his 5 years running the 1,800 person
network, he integrated the agency’s brand, data & analytics and performance media practices in a combined-services model, while overseeing
the agency’s transformation into a modern day, precision-based, agile and nimble media powerhouse. He also reignited growth, overseeing a
string of new business wins, including Clorox, The Home Depot, Georgia Pacific, SNAP and LegalZoom, among others. John also served as a
contributing member of the Worldwide Executive Committee, and he helped propel OMD Worldwide to being crowned “Global Media Agency of
the Year” consecutively in 2019 and 2020 by AdWeek, and Cannes Lion “Global Media Network of the Year” this past June.
John joined OMD in 2017 after 25 years with BBDO, where he served as President and CEO of the New York creative Agency for 13 years. Under
John’s leadership, BBDO New York more than doubled revenues, expanded its client base to include categories like BtoB, retail, healthcare and
more, and diversified its workforce. He also led the agency’s transformation into data, marketing science and communications planning. The
result: BBDO New York was named Agency of the Year more than 20 times by various media outlets.
Over the years, John has demonstrated that he is an energetic, positive and passionate leader with a proven ability to build strong client
relationships and deliver results. John’s notable accomplishments over the years also include his involvement with the “New York Miracle”
campaign, which helped lift spirits of New Yorkers in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
John has served as Chairman of the Board of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the “unifying voice for advertising,” and he remains active on the Board. More recently, John was elected to the Board of Directors for The Advertising Council.
John has been equally active outside business, lending his talents to other important causes. For 15 years, John served on the Board of Directors of the Police Athletic League of New York, and he served in
the role as President of the Board for 10 years working closely with the Commissioner’s Office of the NYPD and the District Attorney’s office to serve over 40,000 underprivileged children of New York City.
He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the American Red Cross of Greater New York, President of GlobalDignity.org and on the Board of the Woodstock Foundation in Woodstock, Vermont.
In recognition of his accomplishments, John was a recipient of a 2012 AdColor Award celebrating diversity champions in advertising, media, marketing and public relations. In 2003, he was inducted into the AAF Hall of Achievement, which honors people 40 years of age or under for their contributions to business. He has also been named to the Crain’s New York Business list of “40 under 40” as well as BtoB magazine’s “Who’s Who in BtoB.” In 2006, John was named a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum. In 2016, the Police Athletic League recognized John as its Superstar of the Year, and the
AAF presented him with the Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal Award – its highest honor for service to the Federation and its membership.
John earned his BA at Dartmouth, for which he continues to serve as an active member of its Alumni Network and Friends of Dartmouth Ice Hockey program.