San Francisco integrated agency Duncan Channon welcomed MJ Deery as director of its new social purpose practice. In the newly-created role, Deery will be tasked with creative and strategic leadership of the new practice, developing social purpose programs and strategies for clients while reporting to Duncan Channon partner, chief creative officer Michael Lemme.
“In an increasingly connected world and our current political climate, a brand’s values, actions and social impact matter more to consumers and employees than they arguably ever have,” Lemme said in a statement. “We’ve always pushed for brands to matter more by building deeper, trusting relationships between our clients and their customers, so creating a dedicated purpose practice is a natural evolution for us. For our clients, it’s no longer optional or a side project. It’s a vital component of a healthy brand.”
“We’ve always marveled at MJ’s gift for strategic insight, creative leadership and artful storytelling, but it became clear we needed to create a purpose-driven role for her when she revealed a deep personal passion and understanding of how consumer expectations, social media and politics are transforming the role of brands as citizens,” he added.
Deery previously worked with Duncan Channon as a freelance creative director and has also freelanced with agencies including mono and Chemistry Club and Whirled, as well as client-side with Samsung. Before going freelance in April of last year, she spent two years as a creative director with Mekanism, where she worked with clients including Nordstrom, Jim Beam and Alaska Airlines. She has had additional client-side experience as a copywriter with Gap and Levi’s. Deery earned an MFA in creative writing and literature from Emerson College and has published short fiction in various literary journals.
“The agency’s campaigns to call out big tobacco for the California Tobacco Control Program and to herald doctors who actually listen for John Muir Health showed me they make work that matters,” Deery said in a statement. “Duncan Channon was the first agency I pitched to create this role because of their work and our shared perspective on how human connections, transparency and values shape our experience.”