Omnicom Production has named Deborah Heslip (West), JT Pierce (East), and Steve Ferreira (Central) as part of a new North America leadership structure, reports LBB’s Abi Lightfoot
Omnicom Production has introduced a new leadership structure for North America, appointing regional presidents across East, Central and West.
The move sees Deborah Heslip as president, West; JT Pierce as president, East; and Steve Ferreira as president, Central. It follows what the company describes as strong US performance and increasing client demand, alongside a broader push to evolve the role of production in an AI‑driven landscape.
Deborah, JT and Steve will report directly to Omnicom Production’s North America CEO Alissa Hansen. She said, “Our momentum in North America is undeniable. Adding to our leadership across the region positions us to better partner with clients, harness new technologies, and push the boundaries of what creative production can achieve. Deborah, JT, and Steve bring the right blend of expertise and ambition to help us write the next chapter of our US growth story.”
Since its launch in 2024, Omnicom Production says its US business has steadily expanded and that it works with 60% of the world’s top brands, alongside technology companies like Adobe and Runway.
It points to a series of new client partnerships, as brands look to adapt how they produce and distribute content across platforms, markets, and moments. The model centres on combining production with technology and more integrated ways of working.
“Production continues to increasingly play a bigger role in the marketing ecosystem,” said Sergio Lopez, CEO of Omnicom Production. “Under Alissa’s leadership in North America, we have been able to be at the vanguard of this evolution while retaining our creative DNA. The addition of Deborah, JT, and Steve, three of the most progressive leaders in our industry, accelerates our ability to help our clients continue to lead in the marketplace with innovative content solutions.”
Deborah joins from Monks, where she was global chief client officer. She has led digitally driven marketing transformation programmes for brands including Apple, S.C. Johnson, Amazon, and Hyundai, and played a key role in securing Monks’ important General Motors win.
“I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to work with incredibly talented people, and the team at Omnicom Production is no exception,” said Deborah. “There’s a strong mix of creative thinking, strategy, and production expertise here, which makes it a great place for big ideas to take shape. I’m looking forward to continuing to build integrated teams that deliver meaningful work for our clients.”
Meanwhile JT previously served as chief client officer and general manager, Americas at Tag Worldwide, where he helped to modernise the business and drove strong North American growth during its acquisition by Dentsu. His career has spanned both brand and agency sides, including DoorDash, Sony Computer Entertainment, and 72andSunny, where he built and scaled in‑house studios, content operations, and integrated creative teams for leading global brands.
Commenting on his new role, JT said, “When teams and partners are deeply invested in creativity and collaboration, it creates the conditions for work that genuinely connects. Technology will continue to evolve how we work, but it’s people who shape what gets made and why it matters. That combination of talent, ambition, and momentum makes this an incredibly exciting time for Omnicom Production.”
Starting out at McCann Toronto as a studio coordinator, Steve rose through the ranks to lead Craft Worldwide in North America. He has led global, cross‑functional teams for clients across sectors from automotive to retail.
“Stepping into this role is a real milestone for me,” says Steve. “Omnicom Production’s vision to drive change by using technology and AI in content creation is market leading. The opportunity ahead is about moving faster and responding to culture in real time. It’s a great moment to be in the business of making things, and redefining what in‑house production can do for our creative partners will be a big part of that.”
The model sees production teams embedded earlier in the process, working alongside creative, media, and client teams to develop ideas and deliver content across channels at scale.