Curious Orange Strengthens U.S. Leadership with Jess Wehage and Google and eBay Veteran Shawn Mielke

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SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 26, 2026--

Curious Orange, an independent digital marketing agency with a global footprint, today announced two major additions to its U.S. leadership team as it continues to expand across North America. The agency has appointed former Instrument leader Jess Wehage as U.S. Managing Director and longtime Google and eBay executive Shawn Mielke as Co-Founder and board member.

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Jess Wehage, U.S. Managing Director at Curious Orange

“In just under two years, we’ve built incredible momentum with a stellar roster of clients,” said Curious Orange Founder Emmet McCaughey. “With Jess and Shawn coming on board, we’re ready to take things to the next level – scaling our way, and staying true to the people-first principles that got us here.”

The appointments follow a period of rapid growth for Curious Orange, including the expansion of its San Francisco team and new work with U.S. and international clients such as Sutter, Arize AI, Discord, Google, YouTube, and Decathlon. The agency is actively hiring in San Francisco to support increasing demand, investing in talent and AI-powered capabilities to deliver at scale while maintaining the agility of an independent shop.

Wehage brings deep industry expertise from leadership roles at Instrument and Firewood Marketing. Her appointment marks a reunion with the founding team, enabling the agency to move quickly and confidently as it scales its U.S. business. In her role, Wehage will oversee U.S. operations, client partnerships, and team growth.

Mielke joins Curious Orange after decades of marketing leadership at Google and eBay, where he led initiatives spanning lifecycle marketing, growth, and digital advertising. As Co-Founder, he will help guide the agency’s strategic direction and support its continued expansion.

“In my experience, independent shops do the best work,” said Mielke. “With the right people, plus smart use of AI, we can match the reach of a network agency, without losing sight of the human touch, which is essential to every partnership.”

About Curious Orange

Curious Orange is an independent agency driven by a global collective of creative and strategic marketers. Founded by Emmet McCaughey and co-founded by former Firewood Marketing leaders Linda O’Connor and Brian Finucane, and ex-Google/YouTube veteran Jen Coleman, the agency leverages remote work, AI, and a global talent pool to deliver exceptional results. With headquarters in San Francisco, Dublin, and Mexico City, Curious Orange collaborates with clients on strategy, creative, project management, and performance marketing. For more information, please visit www.curious-orange.com.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260225535569/en/

CONTACT: Media Contact:

Emmet McCaughey

Founder

[email protected] Wehage

Managing Director

[email protected]

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL MARKETING TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

SOURCE: Curious Orange

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PUB: 02/26/2026 11:00 AM/DISC: 02/26/2026 11:00 AM

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