John Carstens

John Carstens is a seasoned creative leader with extensive experience in advertising and marketing. Currently serving as Chief Creative Officer at DDB since January 2019, Carstens oversees Team DDB, a collaborative group of over nine agencies dedicated to serving U.S. clients. Prior freelance work from October 2014 to January 2019 included contributions as Executive Creative Director and Writer for Apple, notably leading a successful pitch for Symantec. Previous roles include Executive Creative Director at Publicis Sapient, where a focus was placed on integrating brand storytelling with technology, and Global Creative Director at Leo Burnett, managing creative efforts for BlackBerry across multiple global offices. Carstens also held positions at DDB and Cramer-Krasselt, showcasing a strong trajectory in creative direction, beginning as a copywriter at TBWA\Chiat\Day. Academic credentials include a B.A. in Rhetoric & Communication from the University of Virginia and additional training at Miami Ad School Atlanta and Northwestern University.