Duncan Channon names Gary Stein as agency’s first Chief Integration Officer

Award-winning advertising agency adds C-suite role to accelerate integration after acquiring experiential, influencer and social agency A2G 

 

SAN FRANCISCO, August 15, 2019 – Award-winning independent creative agency Duncan Channon today announced the hire of Eleven veteran Gary Stein as the agency’s first chief integration officer. The creation of a new C-suite role for Stein comes on the heels of Duncan Channon’s acquisition of A2G, a two-time Ad Age Small Agency of the Year and pioneer in experiential, influencer and social marketing.

 

As chief integration officer, Stein will accelerate and formalize collaboration between strategy, media and its expanded creative team – which now includes experiential and influencer capabilities – to deliver breakthrough ideas for clients that come to life across the channels that matter to their consumers.

 

“Duncan Channon is doubling down on our vision to help clients achieve their business goals in an increasingly complex and fragmented world of integrated marketing,” said Andy Berkenfield, CEO, Duncan Channon. “We promise clients a holistic view on how creativity can move people’s emotions and actions – online and in real life. Our investment in new leadership and deep expertise in experiential and influencer marketing is about more than adding new offerings. With Gary as our first chief integration officer, we’re ensuring that everything we do across paid, earned, shared and owned channels advances a singular creative vision that helps our clients grow.”

 

Stein joins Duncan Channon after nearly five years at Eleven, most recently as associate partner and head of activation overseeing media, planning and data insights, and previously as group director, marketplace insights. His career has included nearly twenty years in strategy and work on clients such as Nike, Jim Beam and Google Cloud, including the Cannes Lion-winning ‘Know What your Data Knows’ campaign which featured the first-ever live TV spot created from real-time data during NCAA March Madness.

 

“The team at Duncan Channon has this earnest, heartfelt belief that brands can show up for consumers – and our society – in a meaningful and authentic way,” said Gary Stein, chief integration officer, Duncan Channon. “They’re not chasing shiny objects to sell more programs. They’re making major moves to help clients make a bigger impact on people, culture and commerce. DC is an ascendant independent agency with the talent, capabilities and desire to take the next leap. I want to be part of that.”

 

In his new role, Stein will be responsible for developing a business process for collaboration within the agency to unearth deeper insights and diverse points of view across disciplines that drive relevant and unexpected solutions for clients. Stein’s background in both strategy and media furthers his holistic view on how to address client challenges, as well as his empathy for the players in the creative process.

 

He will also be tasked with bringing the agency’s point-of-view on modern relationship building between brands, consumers and media to clients and new business efforts. He will report to CEO Andy Berkenfield.

 

“As the head of DC’s new experiential, social and influencer teams, I’m particularly thrilled to have Gary as another ally in helping our clients think differently,” said Amy Cotteleer, chief experience officer and partner, Duncan Channon. “At a time when some brands and agencies are chasing the latest trend or channel, we’re determined to help our clients connect with consumers — not merely target them. Our creative approach has to have an impact much greater than the sum of its parts. Gary will be a compelling advocate for this point of view with clients, and help bring the best of DC’s diverse offerings to their challenges.”

 

 

About Duncan Channon

Duncan Channon (www.duncanchannon.com) is an award-winning independent, integrated advertising and design agency with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.  Founded in 1990, Duncan Channon is best known for turning StubHub into a household name, bottling the Hawaiian mindset for Kona Beer and educating the public on the dangers of e-cigarettes for the California Tobacco Control Program. This year, DC acquired A2G, a two-time Ad Age Small Agency of the Year and pioneer in experiential, influencer and social marketing, bringing a dynamic new roster of talent and capabilities to the agency. Duncan Channon runs on the philosophy of guanxi, the belief that clients and staff, brands and customers all win when they build real, trusting relationships. Current clients include SweeTARTS, Golden State Warriors, Rakuten, Kona Brewing, Kat Von D Beauty, the California Tobacco Control Program, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Kayak and CBS.