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Advertising San Francisco

San Francisco's Duncan Channon creates new role to focus on social purpose for brands

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By Laurie Fullerton, Freelance Writer

April 11, 2017 | 2 min read

San Francisco- based advertising agency Duncan Channon today announced the hire of MJ Deery as director of the agency’s new social purpose practice.

New Hire
new hire

Deery will serve as one of Duncan Channon’s key creative and strategic leaders in this new role, with a focus on social strategy and development for clients.

MJ previously worked with Duncan Channon as a freelance creative director on client and new business assignments, and will report to Michael Lemme, chief creative officer in her new role. She is tasked with integrating the role of social purpose in brand and marketing to current clients and leading new business efforts in this category.

“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,” said Lemme, chief creative officer and partner at Duncan Channon. “We’ve always pushed for brands to matter more by building relationships between our clients and their customers. For our clients, it’s no longer optional or a side project. It’s a vital component of a healthy brand.”

Prior to joining Duncan Channon, Deery had most recently worked as a freelance creative director. Before that, she served as a creative director at Mekanism where she worked on campaigns for Nordstrom, Jim Beam and Alaska Airlines. Her brand-side experience includes copywriting roles at Gap and Levi’s Strauss & Co. She earned an MFA in creative writing and literature, and has published short stories in literary journals around the country.

“We’ve always marveled at MJ’s gift for insight,leadership and storytelling, but it became clear we needed to create a purpose-driven role for her due to her insights on how consumer expectations, social media and politics are transforming the role of brands as citizens,” added Lemme.

“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,” said Deery. “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.”

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