DDA has hired two new executives as it launches a new office in New York. The marketing and communications agency already operates out of dual London and Los Angeles headquarters.
Dan Salerno has been hired to lead the Big Apple team as the inaugural senior director of strategy and operations. Laura Hernando will serve as head of social in London, overseeing the entertainment and consumer brands social teams.
Salerno joins from his previous role at creative agency Ralph as New York production lead. He will be joined in Gotham by consultant Rachel Effendy, who started the boutique agency StrawberryWasabi and will contribute to DDA’s growth on the east coast as well as internationally.
Hernando previously worked at Jellyfish, where she was VP of creative social after the company bought her previous agency, Social Life. Her 15 years of industry experience include stops at We Are Social, M&C Saatchi and AKQA.
“Our ambition is to offer market-leading expertise and delivery across the world by incorporating all elements of creative marketing and strategic communications to deliver best-in-class, holistic campaigns,” the company’s president Neil Bhatt said in a statement on behalf of the DDA board. “Bringing in talent at the pinnacle of their disciplines such as Laura, Dan and Rachel is our signal of intent and we could not be prouder to be working with them to continue DDA’s exciting growth.”