JOAN, an independent advertising agency based in New York City, has appointed Lauren Costa as its executive creative director. Reporting to JOAN’s co-founder and chief creative officer Jaime Robinson, Costa will start her new role at the agency in January. 

Costa will be managing JOAN’s creative output, looking to push the boundaries of traditional advertising. Working closely with Robinson and co-founder and CEO Lisa Clunie, Costa will also help to shape their creative vision as the agency continues to grow in 2021 and beyond. 

Costa has previously led a creative group at Droga5, and her career spans time at Wieden+Kennedy and Ogilvy & Mather. Before her appointment as ECD at JOAN, Costa worked with the agency on a contract basis, helping to launch the Keds brand platform, Made for Women, Whatever that Means, as well as work for other JOAN clients including Express and Facebook.

“I have been trying to get Lauren to officially join JOAN for no less than three years. I’m so thrilled she finally said yes,” said Robinson. “This woman is a force of nature, a brilliant leader, a whip smart strategic thinker and has one of the most versatile creative brains I have ever encountered. Also, she’s funny as hell.”

Costa shared, “As soon as I stepped into JOAN I was struck. The energy Jaime and Lisa bring every day spreads to everyone in the agency and all the work that comes out of it. Brands come to JOAN for its unique point of view, and JOAN has the luxury of holding true to that. I can’t wait to be a part of shaping that point of view, for the agency, and for our clients.”

Costa is known for having created groundbreaking campaigns for clients like Chase, ESPN and IBM while also taking on special projects such as creative work for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Additionally, she helped lead the team for IBM’s “A Boy and His Atom,” the award-winning animated short made by manipulating atoms. Costa has received numerous creative honors, including Cannes, Clios, Webbys, Effies and an Emmy.  

Costa began her career in journalism and worked for The Washington Post and other publications before making the switch to advertising.