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    Dentsu Creative Hires John Mescall As Global Chief Creative Partner

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    John Mescall
    NEW YORK --

    John Mescall has been appointed global chief creative partner at Dentsu Creative. This strategic hire underscores the agency’s commitment to creative excellence and its ambition to shape a global creative vision.

    Based in New York, Mescall will partner with Yasu Sasaki, dentsu’s global chief creative officer, to align and elevate creative standards across markets. Together with creative leaders in markets, Mescall will spearhead initiatives focused on: Prioritizing creative excellence and craft; building a thriving global creative community; embracing AI and emerging tools to enhance workflows; and expanding opportunities for talent development across the network.

    “What drew me to Dentsu Creative is its deep belief in the power of creativity to drive meaningful impact across the board,” said Mescall. “It’s rare to find a global organization so aligned in purpose, yet so attuned to the unique strengths of its local teams. I’m excited to be a part of a creative culture full of talented, passionate people, that values excellence, fosters innovation, and puts humanity at the center of everything we do.”

    Mescall brings decades of global creative leadership, having served as global executive creative director and president of the Global Creative Council of McCann Worldgroup. and chief creative officer of McCann Melbourne, leading the agency network to be both Cannes Lions and Effie Global Networks of the Year. He was most recently chief creative partner at by TheNetwork. His work has earned more than 100 Cannes Lions, including 8 Grand Prix, Black and Yellow Pencils at D&AD, One Show Best of Show, and multiple Clio, Spikes, LIA and Webby awards.

    “John’s creative legacy speaks for itself, but what excites us most is his ability to unite teams around a shared vision,” said Abbey Klaassen, global president, Dentsu Creative. “He knows how to translate big ideas across markets, unlocking the strongest creative thinking from each region. As a champion of evolution and transformation–not just in the work, but in how we work–John will play a pivotal role in driving creative alignment, elevating our craft, and delivering work that’s both culturally resonant and strategically unified, as we continue to scale our creative impact.”

    Sasaki added, “Transformative Creativity is the driving force that connects our network’s capabilities to create meaningful impact for people, businesses, and society, and John’s commitment to creativity is a reflection of that. As global chief creative partner, John will collaborate closely with our chief creative officers in markets, serving as a trusted advisor to elevate their strategies, while also uniting and inspiring our global creative community, ensuring alignment on purpose, amplifying creative excellence, and unlocking the full potential of our talent.”

    Tags:Dentsu CreativeJohn Mescall



    Director Emily Anderson Joins Riverside Entertainment, Reunites With EP Katie Maguire

    Friday, September 12, 2025

    Riverside Entertainment has added director Emily Anderson to its creative roster. This marks her first exclusive signing with a production house, having directed independently previously.

    Before going freelance, Anderson was Ogilvy NY’s first female in-house director, She spent eight years writing, producing, and directing documentaries and commercials, collaborating with brands that sent her all over the world.

    “I didn’t have a traditional journey to becoming a director,” explained Anderson who’s an alum of SHOOT’s 2016 New Directors Showcase. “After directing my first documentary in Vietnam for Philips, I realized that all the creative jobs I’d had up to that point--photography, journalism, design--had led up to that moment.”

    While at Ogilvy, Anderson found a partner in producer Katie Maguire, who joined Riverside as executive producer in 2024. This signing reunites the duo, whose work together includes such brands as Absolut, Citizens Bank, Delta, Ford, IBM, Philips, and UPS.

    “Traveling the world together for years, we were partners in storytelling,” said Maguire. “Working that closely you really get to understand someone. I know Emily’s voice, what she is capable of, and who she is--smart, funny, and bold. I’ve rarely worked with someone who works as hard as Emily, and I’m thrilled to be reunited at Riverside.”

    “What Katie and I had at Ogilvy, and later at Hogarth, was really special--and that same spark exists at Riverside: camaraderie, community, and wide-ranging creative opportunities,” said Anderson. “It feels like a door wide open.”

    “It’s amazing to work with someone who knows me not just as a director, but as a person,” she added. “We share a history--I was... Read More

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