CYLNDR Studios has appointed Leah Chaney as director of influencer, a move that signals the evolution of the discipline within the studio. Chaney steps in to expand and redefine CYLNDR Studios’ influencer practice--ensuring that when creators are engaged for campaigns, they are a driving creative force, not just a distribution channel.

Already partnering with global brands including Little Caesars, Samsung and Ross Dress for Less, CYLNDR Studios has been integrating creators into its production-first approach, where every idea is grounded in reality, but designed to push beyond it. Chaney’s role is to formalize and scale that philosophy by embedding creators alongside strategists, designers and filmmakers from the very beginning. Transforming influence into something authored, not applied.

“There’s been a ceiling on influencer because we (the industry) have treated it as an output,” said Chaney. “The real opportunity is to treat it like authorship. Creators shouldn’t be brought in to execute ideas, they should be helping define them. That’s how the work becomes something undeniable and culturally impactful.”

At CYLNDR Studios, production is the strategy, which removes the distance between idea and execution. This shifts the focus from managing outputs to shaping ideas where craft, instinct, and cultural fluency sharpen the work in real time. The goal isn’t more content. It’s work that earns real attention. From episodic storytelling to creator-led formats, Chaney will lead a new wave of work designed to resonate beyond the scroll.

“The industry has gotten very good at producing content,” Chaney added. “But not all content is treated equally. Creators are directors, editors, storytellers; they understand... Read More