His mother, who recently retired, was an executive vice president and the worldwide director of strategic services at Grey Advertising in Manhattan.
In 2010 Carson worked as worldwide creative director for Bose Corporation.
The promotion is part of plans to appoint regional creative leaders rather than hire a new worldwide creative director.
He turned down a chance to become worldwide director for Nissan design, he says.
He is also the worldwide digital director for JWT.
The latter has become worldwide director for strategic development.
Along with his new job, he will continue as worldwide creative director responsible for overseeing all advertising developed in New York.
Richard O'Brien, who had been the fourth man in the office of the chief executive, continues as vice chairman and worldwide director of client services.
Her mother is a worldwide director of business development at Colgate-Palmolive in New York.
She moved to Reader's Digest in 1968 and worked there until her retirement in 1996, the last 10 years as worldwide director of book rights.