I’m currently fighting in the chicken wars as a Group Creative Director on the Chick-fil-A account at McCann New York.
But to quote the late Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School, “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
Specifically, a lover of the Old English D, Coney Island hot dogs and the music of Bob Seger. (Yep, I’m originally from Detroit.)
I’ve spent the last seven years in creative leadership at McCann, the 2019 Cannes Agency of the Year and four-time Ad Age A List honoree. I'm always striving to make famous creative work that lands in culture. In my career, I’ve partnered with Oscar and Emmy winners, SNL cast members and a hedgehog voiced by Michael Rappaport. And I've been lucky enough to be recognized globally by every industry festival.
Long ago, I started my career in journalism, working as an editorial designer at The Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune. I later transitioned to work as a graphic designer before landing as an art director in advertising.
In my role as GCD, I lead and direct a handful of senior and junior teams from concept to completion. I have a proven track record building strong relationships with C-level clients, and an experience and passion for pitching new business.
Each year, my wife and I document one second of our every day with our baby boy. You can watch the latest version below. If, after viewing, you feel like one second a day of my life isn’t enough — and you’d like to see and hear more — email me at jasonmckean@mac.com.
EXPERIENCE
McCann / New York
SVP Group Creative Director (2019-present)
VP Creative Director (2015-2019)
Clients: Chick-fil-A, Verizon, Mastercard
Leo Burnett / Chicago
Associate Creative Director (2013-2015)
Senior Art Director (2011-2013)
Senior Designer (2009-11)
Clients: Fifth Third Bank, Invesco, Kellogg's, Norton, Hallmark, Foster's
VSA Partners / Chicago
Design Director (2007-09)
Senior Designer (2005-07)
Clients: Harley-Davidson, IBM, Sappi, Tishman Speyer, Bell Canada
Chicago Tribune / Chicago
Art Director (2002-2005)
The Boston Globe / Boston
Editorial Designer (1999-2002)
McCann / New York
SVP Group Creative Director (2019-present)
VP Creative Director (2015-2019)
Clients: Chick-fil-A, Verizon, Mastercard
Leo Burnett / Chicago
Associate Creative Director (2013-2015)
Senior Art Director (2011-2013)
Senior Designer (2009-11)
Clients: Fifth Third Bank, Invesco, Kellogg's, Norton, Hallmark, Foster's
VSA Partners / Chicago
Design Director (2007-09)
Senior Designer (2005-07)
Clients: Harley-Davidson, IBM, Sappi, Tishman Speyer, Bell Canada
Chicago Tribune / Chicago
Art Director (2002-2005)
The Boston Globe / Boston
Editorial Designer (1999-2002)
EDUCATION
The Audacious School of Astonishing Pursuits
Founding Member of Creative Megamachine by W+K Veteran Jason Bagley (2022)
The Audacious School of Astonishing Pursuits
Founding Member of Creative Megamachine by W+K Veteran Jason Bagley (2022)
The Second City Training Center / Chicago
Comedy and Sketch Writing (2013)
Comedy and Sketch Writing (2013)
Northwestern University / Evanston, IL
BS Journalism (1999)
BS Journalism (1999)
RECOGNITION
Cannes Lions
Silver Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Silver Lion: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio)
Bronze Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Bronze Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Social)
Bronze Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Social)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Social)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (PR)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (PR)
D&AD
Graphite Pencil: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Graphite Pencil: Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Book Design)
Wood Pencil: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio Commercial)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Commercial)
Shortlist: Corn Flakes / Lard's Heyday (Typography for Press & Poster Advertising)
ANDYs
Gold: Verizon / First Responders First (Idea)
Clio Awards
Silver: Mastercard / #ArnieWould (Partnerships & Collaborations)
Silver: Mastercard / #ArnieWould (Social Media)
Bronze: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Bronze: Mastercard / #ArnieWould (Integrated Campaign)
Bronze: Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Editorial Design)
Bronze: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Animation)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Commercial)
Shortlist: Mastercard / Arnold Palmer (Print)
One Show
Merit: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
One Show Design
Merit: Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Publication Design: Book Layout Design)
New York Festivals
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Film: Best Use — Brave Work)
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Film: Best Use — Made for TV)
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Film: Products & Services)
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Positive World Impact)
Finalist: Verizon / First Responders First (Avant-Garde)
AICP
Winner: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Animation)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Campaign)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Cause)
Radio Mercury Awards
Winner: Verizon / First Responders First (Integrated Campaign)
Finalist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Finalist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Commercial)
Finalist: Fifth Third Bank / Escape the Wait (Most Innovative Use of Radio)
Finalist: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Integrated Radio Campaign)
London International Awards
Silver: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio)
Bronze: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Bronze: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Animation)
Silver Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Silver Lion: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio)
Bronze Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Bronze Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Social)
Bronze Lion: Verizon / First Responders First (Social)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Social)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (PR)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (PR)
D&AD
Graphite Pencil: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Graphite Pencil: Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Book Design)
Wood Pencil: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio Commercial)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Commercial)
Shortlist: Corn Flakes / Lard's Heyday (Typography for Press & Poster Advertising)
ANDYs
Gold: Verizon / First Responders First (Idea)
Clio Awards
Silver: Mastercard / #ArnieWould (Partnerships & Collaborations)
Silver: Mastercard / #ArnieWould (Social Media)
Bronze: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Bronze: Mastercard / #ArnieWould (Integrated Campaign)
Bronze: Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Editorial Design)
Bronze: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Animation)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Commercial)
Shortlist: Mastercard / Arnold Palmer (Print)
One Show
Merit: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
One Show Design
Merit: Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Publication Design: Book Layout Design)
New York Festivals
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Film: Best Use — Brave Work)
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Film: Best Use — Made for TV)
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Film: Products & Services)
Third Place: Verizon / First Responders First (Positive World Impact)
Finalist: Verizon / First Responders First (Avant-Garde)
AICP
Winner: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Animation)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Campaign)
Shortlist: Verizon / First Responders First (Cause)
Radio Mercury Awards
Winner: Verizon / First Responders First (Integrated Campaign)
Finalist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Campaign)
Finalist: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio Commercial)
Finalist: Fifth Third Bank / Escape the Wait (Most Innovative Use of Radio)
Finalist: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Integrated Radio Campaign)
London International Awards
Silver: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio)
Bronze: Verizon / First Responders First (Film)
Bronze: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Animation)
Hugo Television Awards
Gold Plaque: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Retail TV)
Silver Plaque: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Online Campaign)
Silver Plaque: Fifth Third Bank / Redundancy Incorporated, Inc. (Banking/Financial)
Epica Awards
Gold: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
The Shorty Awards
Winner: The Sound of Priceless (Financial Services)
Winner: The Sound of Priceless (Real Time Response)
Winner: The Sound of Priceless (Creative Use of Technology)
Kinsale Shark Awards
Bronze: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio)
Bronze: Fifth Third Bank / Redundancy Incorporated, Inc. (FIlm)
ADDYs
Silver: Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose? (Illustration)
Silver: Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose? (Mixed/Multiple Media)
Gold Plaque: Hallmark / Mother Bird (Retail TV)
Silver Plaque: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Online Campaign)
Silver Plaque: Fifth Third Bank / Redundancy Incorporated, Inc. (Banking/Financial)
Epica Awards
Gold: Verizon / First Responders First (Radio)
The Shorty Awards
Winner: The Sound of Priceless (Financial Services)
Winner: The Sound of Priceless (Real Time Response)
Winner: The Sound of Priceless (Creative Use of Technology)
Kinsale Shark Awards
Bronze: Fifth Third Bank / Bank of Mom and Dad (Radio)
Bronze: Fifth Third Bank / Redundancy Incorporated, Inc. (FIlm)
ADDYs
Silver: Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose? (Illustration)
Silver: Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose? (Mixed/Multiple Media)
Type Directors Club
Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Book Design)
Print Regional Design Annual
Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows
Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose?
Leo Burnett / GPC Scale
Communication Arts Advertising Annual
Corn Flakes / The Original and Best
Communication Arts Typography Annual
Hallmark / Life is a Special Occasion
Corn Flakes / The Original and Best
Leo Burnett / GPC Scale
Communication Arts Illustration Annual
Leo Burnett / GPC Scale
Print Magazine Creativity + Commerce Annual
Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose?
Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows
HOW International and Interactive Design Annual
Outstanding Achievement: Kellogg's Corn Flakes (Print Advertising)
Merit: Leo Burnett / GPC Scale (Poster)
Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows (Book Design)
Print Regional Design Annual
Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows
Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose?
Leo Burnett / GPC Scale
Communication Arts Advertising Annual
Corn Flakes / The Original and Best
Communication Arts Typography Annual
Hallmark / Life is a Special Occasion
Corn Flakes / The Original and Best
Leo Burnett / GPC Scale
Communication Arts Illustration Annual
Leo Burnett / GPC Scale
Print Magazine Creativity + Commerce Annual
Special K / What Will You Gain When You Lose?
Leo Burnett / Where the Wind Blows
HOW International and Interactive Design Annual
Outstanding Achievement: Kellogg's Corn Flakes (Print Advertising)
Merit: Leo Burnett / GPC Scale (Poster)