JOE CALABRESE
Chief Production Officer (CPO), McCann NY
Since June 2024, Joe Calabrese has served as the Chief Production Officer at McCann NY. Leading a dynamic team of 55 Producers and Business Affairs & Rights Managers, he manages over $82M in production budgets for 27 esteemed clients, including industry giants such as Mastercard, L’Oreal, Reckitt, Smirnoff, Prudential, Qualcomm, and the NY Lottery. With a relentless pursuit of innovative production methods, Joe’s creative instincts and diverse experience inspire a talented group of creators dedicated to delivering outstanding work.
Prior to joining McCann, Joe founded and served as Executive Producer of Joe Mama Productions, a comprehensive advertising production and consultancy agency. His work spanned high-profile clients including Samsung, Subway, and Uber Eats. During this period, he consulted for eight prominent agencies, including Dentsu and Ogilvy, pioneering modern production strategies that strengthened client relationships and navigated complex production challenges.
Before his entrepreneurial venture, Joe was the EVP and Director of Integrated Production at Deutsch & Steelhead NY, where he unified a multi-disciplinary production studio across all content – broadcast, social, experiential, digital, and print.
Joe’s outstanding contributions to the industry have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including 21 Cannes Lions, 9 AICPs, 7 One Show Pencils, 6 Clios, 3 D&AD awards, and 2 Webbys.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Chief Production Officer, McCann, NY
June 2024 – present
Managed over $82M in global production dollars across our client roster: Mastercard, L’Oreal, Prudential, Reckitt, Smirnoff, Qualcomm, Linked In, SSIM, Valero, TJ Maxx
Oversaw an integrated production team of 41 Integrated Producers and Business Affairs & Rights Managers
Supported a highly profitable multi-disciplinary internal production studio (Craft & No6)
Created new process for deeper, more meaningful collaboration across departments, discovered unconventional partners, up-and-coming talent, platform specific technology, and better workflow systems
An optimistic, creative collaborator, holding a seat on the Agency Leadership Team carrying out our agency mission; managing finances, staffing, and resources across the agency
Member of Agency Cultural Committee, creating programs and boltsering agency morale
Joe Mama Productions, Founder/Executive Producer; Martin Agency, Dentsu/360i, Special Group LA
December 2021 – present
Oversaw integrated production teams on Subway and Samsung
Produced fully integrated campaigns for Uber Eats (Super Bowl), Samsung, Car Max, Activision, Haagen Dazs, AG1
Consulted on Subway and Ebay brands to revamp production approach, methods and partners
Director of Production, DEUTSCH, NY
March 2011 – December 2021
37M in global production dollars across our client roster: AB in BEV, Reebok, PNC Bank. Galderma, Johnson & Johnson, Outback, et al
Directed an integrated production team of 41 producers, designers, directors, editors, animators, re-touchers, vfx artists, photographers across all production disciplines (digital, video, experiential, and photography)
Built a multi-disciplinary internal production studio (Steelhead) from scratch into an award-winning, highly profitable, best in class creative solution, specializing in video production (filming), post production (editing, vfx, color, sound recording & mixing) & tech (AI, machine learning, site & APP development)
Member of Diversity and Inclusion team
Director of Brand Production, JWT NY
January 2008 – February 2011
Managed over $48M in client production dollars
Managed an integrated production team of 35 producers on Macys, Diageo (Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo, Crown Royal), Rolex, Cadbury (Trident, Stride, Sour Patch Kids), Royal Caribbean
Executive Producer, BBH NY
September 2006 – January 2008
Responsible for the AXE Body Spray and Miller Lite accounts
Produced television spots, online content, photography
Senior Producer, TBWA/CHIAT DAY SF
September 2004 – September 2006
Responsible for the FOX Sports and Adidas accounts
Produced television spots, online videos, episodic network television
Other Production Experience – CHIAT/DAY NY, DOREMUS, D’ARCY
Over 20 years experience in agency producing and production consulting, editing, business affairs, traffic, talent, line producing
EDUCATION
Hofstra University, BBA Marketing/Psychology
ACCOLADES
21 Cannes Lions, 9 AICP awards, 6 Clios, 7 One Show Pencils, 3 D& AD awards, 2 Webbys
OTHER ENDEAVORS
Partner/Executive Producer, COBRA BLOOD FILMS, LLC
‘Better Half’ the Movie
13 festival acceptances
4 festival wins
In development for the series
‘90’ the series
‘Perfect’ the movie
Owner/Partner, CAL PROPERTIES, LLC
Community conscious builder specializing in Brooklyn brownstone residential condominium design & development
REFERENCES
Available upon request, or just poke around. I stand by my reputation 🙂