Group Creative Director | Executive Creative Leader |
Award-Winning Copywriter | Brand Storyteller

San Diego, CA • bdunaway@gmail.com • briandunawayCD.com

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Award-winning Group Creative Director with 20-plus years of experience leading integrated creative teams for global brands, challenger startups, and nationally recognized institutions. Proven success developing breakthrough campaigns that strengthen brands, grow businesses, win new clients, and inspire audiences.

Experienced in building and mentoring multidisciplinary creative teams while partnering closely with strategy, account leadership, production, media, and executive stakeholders. Comfortable moving seamlessly from brand platform development and executive presentations to directing commercial productions and launching integrated campaigns across every major channel.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 20+ years leading award-winning creative teams across agency and client organizations

• Creative leadership spanning consumer products, spirits, fintech, healthcare, education, retail, automotive, travel, and lifestyle brands

• Led multiple successful new-business pitches resulting in significant agency growth

• Directed commercial, documentary, and digital productions from concept through final delivery

• Built integrated campaigns spanning television, digital, social, experiential, outdoor, print, and emerging media

• University instructor whose students earned Best in Show honors and national recognition

CORE COMPETENCIES

Creative Leadership • Executive Creative Direction • Brand Strategy • Brand Positioning • Integrated Marketing Campaigns • Creative Team Leadership • Copywriting • Art Direction Collaboration • Commercial Production • Video Direction • Content Strategy • Experiential Marketing • Social Media Campaigns • Brand Identity • Cross-Functional Leadership • Client Partnership • Executive Presentation • New Business Development • Pitch Leadership • Creative Mentorship • AI-Enabled Creative Workflow

EXPERIENCE

VITRO
Creative Director | Group Creative Director | Executive Creative Director
San Diego, CA | 2011–Present

• Lead multidisciplinary creative teams across integrated advertising, branding, digital, social, experiential, and broadcast.

• Guide campaigns from strategic development through production and launch for regional, national, and global clients.

• Partner directly with executive leadership and clients to shape brand strategy and long-term creative vision.

• Successfully led multiple new-business pitches, contributing to agency growth.

• Directed commercial productions, documentaries, digital content, and branded storytelling initiatives.

• Helped establish and utilize the agency's in-house production capabilities.

• Mentored writers, art directors, designers, editors, and junior creative leaders.

• Produced award-winning work recognized nationally and internationally.

Selected Clients: REIGN Total Body Fuel • Taylor Guitars • Wild Turkey • Pendleton Whisky • Best Egg • Elevate • RISE Fintech • UC San Diego • UC San Diego Health • Build.com • Serengeti • Bollé • Toyo Tires • ASICS • 361°

Publicis Groupe
Associate Creative Director
Dallas, TX | 2010–2011

• Led integrated campaigns for consumer packaged goods and healthcare brands.

• Developed human-centered storytelling approaches that increased engagement and strengthened brand perception.

• Directed multidisciplinary creative teams across broadcast, print, digital, and retail communications.

Selected Clients: Nestlé Pure Life • BC Headache Powder

McCann Worldwide
Senior Copywriter / Associate Creative Director
Dallas, TX | 2007-2010

• Created national advertising campaigns across television, digital, print, and experiential channels.

• Helped retain key agency business through successful national pitches.

• Produced work selected for the inaugural One Show One Film Festival.

Selected Clients: American Airlines • Nationwide Insurance • Bell Helicopters

Texas A&M-Commerce
Adjunct Professor, Advertising
2004-2010

• Taught advertising copywriting and art direction.

• Mentored emerging creative talent whose work earned Best in Show honors at the National ADDYs.

• Students received recognition from CMYK Magazine, Communication Arts, Lürzer's Archive, and The One Show.

TRG (The Richards Group)
Copywriter
2003-2007

• Developed national campaigns spanning broadcast, outdoor, point-of-sale, retail, and experiential marketing.

• Worked across quick-service restaurants, automotive, retail, and consumer brands.

• Produced nationally recognized work that helped elevate client visibility and brand love.

Selected Clients: American Airlines • Nationwide Insurance • Bell Helicopters

AWARDS

• Cannes Lions

• One Show

• One Show One Film Festival

• Communication Arts (4×)

• Adweek Ad of the Day

• Lürzer's Archive

• ADDY Best in Show

• Athena Grand Prize

• Creativity Pick of the Day

• AdCritic Top 20

EDUCATION

M.S., Mass Communications — Advertising
Virginia Commonwealth University

B.A., Advertising
Brigham Young University