Ad agency JOAN has hired Cheri Anderson to take on a dual role, leading JOAN Studios as managing director and serving as head of production for the JOAN Creative agency.
Anderson will helm the ongoing expansion of JOAN Studios, which launched in 2020. JOAN Studios specializes in full-scale shoots and direct-to-client productions, including TV commercials, video content, documentaries, online advertising, social content, gaming and photography. As managing director, Anderson will oversee the entity’s full suite of production services.
Concurrently, as head of production for the JOAN Creative agency, which recently delivered major campaigns for Dr. Scholl’s, HPE, Facebook and Sheetz, Anderson will oversee campaign production for the agency’s portfolio of brands, including Keds, Brawny, Facebook, Google and Virgin.
In both roles, Anderson will be charged with ensuring that JOAN Studios’ diverse roster of standout creators–who are discovered and curated from across the internet and around the globe, and predominantly hail from underrepresented communities–will be fully utilized and integrated with campaign production for JOAN Creative’s agency clients.
“Since its inception, JOAN Studios has always engaged diverse creators to form a melting pot of talent that you might not otherwise find in the typical pipeline,” said Jaime Robinson, co-founder and CCO, JOAN. “Cheri will play a pivotal role connecting JOAN Studios’ incredible abundance of diverse talent to JOAN Creative clients’ campaigns, which will yield benefits for creators and clients alike.”
Anderson’s career has been defined by best in class production work, the procurement of unique talent, nurturing client relationships, and helping to create a diverse, sustainable culture for colleagues and clients. Her expertise has spanned the agency, production and postproduction worlds, having worked for creative agencies such as Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Chiat NY & LA, Droga 5, Deutsch NY and many others. She also brings extensive production experience from her work with various companies including 1stAveMachine, Tool of North America and Believe Media. Between 2015 and 2020, Anderson partnered with MT Carney at Untitled Worldwide, first as integrated head of production and eventually as director of creative services for major clients, including The Gap, Glossier, Spotify and LG.
“Cheri’s unique experience and skillset make her the perfect person to realize our vision for production,” said Lisa Clunie, co-founder and CEO, JOAN. “She not only shares our commitment to exceptional client work and equity within the industry, but will also be ideally positioned to help JOAN’s clients leverage the full extent of the unique talent uncovered by JOAN Studios through this new dual role.”
“I’ve had my eye on JOAN for a long time,” said Anderson. “JOAN is a different breed of agency. It stands out for it’s dedication to doing nontraditional work that truly resonates in culture, as well as for its clear commitment to diversity. The ideas coming out of the agency are progressive, the culture is inclusive, and I am thrilled to be joining the team at this female- founded, female-led agency.”
