As VaynerMedia continues to scale globally, two key leaders have stepped up to take us to the next level: John Terrana (JT), President of the Americas & Global Chief Media Officer, and Marcus Krzastek, President of International. With a combined 20+ years at VaynerMedia, the deep support of Gary and the trust of our clients, we’re thrilled to welcome the newest Presidents at VaynerMedia.
JT: Pushing the Boundaries of Media and Creative
John Terrana, known by most as JT, has spent the past five years shaping the agency’s media operations across the Americas and beyond. He’s passionate about VaynerMedia’s unique integrated approach. “There’s no other organization in the industry like us. We’re running billions of dollars in media while simultaneously producing millions of social media ads. No one else has that combination of media, creative, and production under one roof.”
A firm believer in the agency’s Honey Empire philosophy, JT values ambition balanced with kindness. “We want to win, but we also truly care about people. That’s what makes this place special.”
For those looking to thrive at Vayner, he offers this advice: “Meet 100 people in your first 100 days. Everyone here is not only talented but generous with their time. If you take the initiative, you can accelerate your growth by learning from the best minds in the industry.”
One of JT’s proudest achievements is launching the Residency Program, which started with just over a dozen participants and has since grown to welcome nearly 100 global residents each year. “Watching that program become one of the best onboarding experiences in the industry is something I’m really proud of.”
Rather than focusing on traditional campaigns, JT champions VaynerMedia’s always-on approach. “We don’t think in campaigns the way traditional agencies do. Our model is always-on, organic and paid social at scale. I love what we’re doing for brands like Wingstop, where we’re producing hundreds of social media ads per week, optimizing in real time, and delivering results that wouldn’t be possible with a traditional ‘big campaign’ approach.”
Marcus: Scaling VaynerMedia’s Global Footprint
Marcus Krzastek has been in the room since day one, witnessing and shaping VaynerMedia’s evolution from its earliest days. Starting as a part-time team member of the finance team, he quickly became a key player, helping land foundational clients like Campbell’s Soup and Zappos. Over the years, he took on various leadership roles, including serving as Gary Vaynerchuk’s Chief of Staff for many years—a role that gave him a front-row seat to the agency’s rapid growth and a deep understanding of its inner workings.
“There are so many nuances across different markets,” Marcus explains. “From budgets to cultural perspectives, staffing, and communication lines—each region requires a unique approach.” His mission is to build a globally integrated yet locally nuanced structure that maximizes impact.
Over the years, Marcus has worn many hats—helping land early clients like Campbell’s Soup and Zappos, launching VaynerMedia’s analytics and platform teams, and serving as Gary’s Chief of Staff before running The Sasha Group in 2024. Now, as President of International, he’s focused on ensuring that VaynerMedia’s global expansion remains deeply rooted in the company’s core values. “Doing the right thing is always the right thing,” he says. “Even when it makes life harder in the short term, prioritizing clients and employees over immediate gains leads to sustainable success.”
For those looking to grow within VaynerMedia, Marcus emphasizes the importance of exploration. “There are incredibly smart people across every department. To truly succeed, you need to understand all the moving parts.” He encourages specialists to step outside their silos and learn from other teams. “If you’re in media, spend time with creative. If you’re in creative, get to know client partnerships. The more you understand, the more effective you become.”
