• by Larissa Faw , April 11, 2019

John McCarthy has been appointed president of DDB San Francisco. He will work alongside executive creative director Ben Wolan to oversee the office’s client roster.

McCarthy reports directly to Paul Gunning, Chief Operating Officer/president, DDB U.S. 

McCarthy has worked with brands including Google, Coca-Cola, Nike, PlayStation, Goldman Sachs, GE, Chanel and others.

Most recently, McCarthy was senior vice president of strategy for Y Media Labs, an experience design and innovation agency. Earlier McCarthy was general manager for Johannes Leonardo, led strategic initiatives at JWT, as well as corporate social responsibility efforts for Qualcomm. 

Although the president position for DDB SF is not a new role, McCarthy is the first to be appointed to it under Gunning, who was elevated to his role last summer and in the midst of an agency-wide reassessment.

Last October DDB's New York office parted ways with 20-year veteran Chris Brown who served as New York President and CEO with Gunning stepping in as the interim leader.