John Del Cecato brings decades of creative conception and production experience at the highest levels of advertising and politics to serve as Seven Letter’s Creative Advisor.
In that capacity, he conceives, designs and oversees the production of persuasive creative content for clients across the agency's corporate, public affairs and advertising practices.
Previously, Del Cecato was named partner at AKPD Message and Media and was the center of the company’s creative work – helping to devise media and communications strategies for clients such as Barack Obama, Pete Buttigieg, former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, former MA Gov. Deval Patrick, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, former Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
In 2008 and 2012, Del Cecato worked closely with David Axelrod in the areas of communications strategy and message development for the Obama presidential campaign. Most notably, Del Cecato was responsible for writing, directing, and producing many of Obama’s nationally broadcast television ads – including several spots that independent research found to be the most effective of the presidential campaign. Del Cecato played a similar role on the insurgent 2020 presidential campaign of former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
Del Cecato has also helped craft successful messages for organizations such as the international AFL-CIO, the California Working Families Party, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC’s) successful campaign to retake the House majority in 2006. His award-winning commercials reflect a unique ad-making style, with rich biographical storytelling, compelling interviews, memorable graphical treatments, unique sound editing, and pitch-perfect response and comparative messaging.
Before his work at AKPD, Del Cecato graduated with honors from Northwestern University, majoring in communications and political science. He has lectured on the political process at the University of Virginia, George Washington University, Yale University, Columbia University, Tufts University, Hunter College, the University of Pennsylvania, ESADE Business and Law School (Madrid), and his alma mater NU.