CONTACT

ED ZAZZERA

I am the Head of Production for Dentsu Creative US, overseeing the creation of everything from epic films to intuitive chatbots. A seasoned, multi-platform content producer and leader with 20+ years of experience in advertising production and media, I am passionate about bringing transformational ideas to life across all shapes, sizes, formats, and platforms.

I specialize in integrated production solutions, with a relentless focus on creative excellence and executional craft. I am driven to make good ideas great! Throughout my career, my work—both as a Producer and Head of Production—has been recognized at major industry award shows many times over.

With 12+ years of experience leading production departments at Dentsu Creative, BBH New York, McCann HumanCare, and DDB New York, I have built and led integrated teams spanning Content, Digital, Experiential, Innovation, Print & Art Production, Studio Production and Business Affairs—delivering groundbreaking work for our clients.

I bring an entrepreneurial mindset to production, constantly seeking innovative ways to push creative boundaries, maximize efficiency, and develop new production models that keep pace with the ever-evolving production and media landscape. I thrive on assembling teams of extraordinary people who share that same drive for innovation and excellence.

EXPERIENCE

DENTSU CREATIVE U.S. | HEAD OF PRODUCTION | 2021 -

Lead production across all Dentsu Creative US agencies.
Manage a production team of 160 producers, business affairs managers, studio artists, creators and innovators.
Led the transformation and integration of production teams across legacy Dentsu agencies (McGarryBowen, 360i, Firstborn, MKTG, and Isobar), unifying them under a single process, vision, and cohesive operation within the Dentsu Creative brand.
Enable the team to deliver highly crafted creative at scale no matter the medium or budget, from traditional to innovation, small social posts to big TV, to experiential and fully integrated campaigns.

McCANN HEALTH | DIRECTOR of INTEGRATED Production | 2019 - 2021

Brought in to establish and define integrated production @ McCann Health.
From the ground up, built and manage an integrated team that produces across all areas of production: Content, Art, Print, Digital, Experiential, and more…
Established production process and best practices for the agency.
Manage all aspects of staffing plans and SOW’s.
Responsible for executional excellence across all areas of production.
Work in tight collaboration and partnership with the CCO, ECD’s & CD’s to maintain high execution standards and craft.
Ensure effective training and mentoring processes for younger producers.
Responsible for production education across the agency.
Manage production for global clients: Eli Lilly, Astra-Zeneca, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, J&J, Novartis, RB, BMS, GSK and more.

BBH New York | DIRECTOR of Production | 2018 - 2019

Managed an integrated team of Content, Art & Print Producers, and Business Affairs managers.
Managed BBH’s In-House Production Studio, The Slaughterhouse, comprised of Editors, Directors, Animators, Audio engineers, and Producers. The studio created work across Film/Video, Still, Social Media, Live Action & Post Production with budget ranges from $5k - $1MM. Implemented practices for efficient workflow processes for production, post-production and archiving content. Maintained and managed the studio’s P&L.
Active member of the BBH NY leadership team.
Maintained tight working relationships with agency CCO and ECD’s to ensure that production best practices lead to exceptional production execution.
Ensured processes that included production throughout agency process – from brief through execution.
Lead initiatives around mentoring & training producers.
Ensure myself, my team and creatives are up to date on all emerging production talent and technology.
Responsible for all production hires, from agency to studio production for staff and freelance roles.
Manage all aspects of staffing plans and scopes of work.
Maintain a strong reputation and relationships within the production community.
Regularly invited to judge for advertising production related award shows and to participate in industry related panels.
Managed and produced for all of our clients; Playstation, Brighthouse Financial, Grub Hub, Seamless, Harman Kardon, TAP Portugal, Vaseline.

DDB NY & Red Urban NY | Head of Content Production | 2009 - 2017

Managed an integrated team of Content, Digital, Art & Print Producers, and Business Affairs group.
Managed DDB’s In-House Production Studio consisting of Editors, Directors, Animators and Producers. Led several in-house productions that resulted in award winning work for Water Is Life, Smithsonian Zoo, and NYC Ballet. The studio created work across Film/Video, Still, Social Media, Live Action & Post Production with budget ranges from $5k - $1MM.
Via the Studio, built agile, social content capabilities and teams for our more socially driven clients to deliver on the “always on” aspects of their business.
Helped form integrated production at DDB, along with establishing a new integrated workflow process for both general advertising production and internal studio production.
Manage all aspects of staffing plans and scopes of work.
Worked in tight collaboration with the agency CCO to maintain high executional standards.
Lead initiatives around mentoring & training producers.
Responsible for hiring across the production group and keeping an eye out for top talent.
Maintain a strong reputation and relationships within the production community.
Regularly invited to judge for advertising production related award shows.
Managed and produced for clients: Heineken, Dos XX, Tecate, Mars, State Farm, Cotton, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Electrolux, Atlantic Healthcare, Eli Lilly, Merck, Qualcomm, Exxon, Huawei, Time Warner Cable, BBVA, Facing Addiction, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival.

BBDO | Executive Producer | 2004 - 2009

Produced filmed content for all media across the following accounts: Monster, DirecTV, Snickers, FedEx, G4, Guinness, Red Stripe, Motorola, Target, Pepsi, Starbucks, Mountain Dew, AMP, Conservation International and eBay.
Managed and mentored jr. producers. Responsible for their growth and development.

Cliff Freeman & Partners | Senior Producer | 1998 - 2004

Produced filmed content for all media across the following accounts: Fox Sports, TBS, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Mohegan Sun, Budget, Midas, Go.com, Value City, Coke, Quizno’s, and Staples.