Signalling a continued commitment to expanding its creative horizons, interdisciplinary experience design studio G&A has appointed James Wilkinson as its first-ever Chief Creative Officer (CCO). Formerly G&A’s SVP, Growth, he will now ensure that creativity remains at the core of the company’s strategy, driving innovation and differentiation in an evolving marketplace.

James originally came to G&A this year after more than three decades of international experience working for some of the world’s most prestigious creative agencies and brands. However, as the firm’s success fueled growth, there arose a need for a new leadership role – creatively inspiring clients and talent, while also setting the highest industry bar for others to strive to achieve. As CCO, James will be squarely focused on creating and nurturing company culture and ways of working that place groundbreaking and brave creativity at the heart of G&A. 

“The future of G&A, our client partnerships, and our extraordinary team has never held more opportunity,” explains Wilkinson. “As technology continues to integrate seamlessly into our daily lives, our expectations for life experiences and tastes are evolving. Our clients are similarly forward-thinking; understanding that the future of museums and branded spaces lies in creating environments and experiences tailored to the modern guest. Industries like retail, travel, hospitality, and museums must continue to innovate – drawing valuable inspiration from one another and leveraging shared principles. I’m excited to work with G&A’s talented team to craft creative approaches that infuse these principles within everything we do.”

Alongside its new CCO, G&A is also strengthening its leadership team by promoting Clare Brown to Executive Creative Director and adding Christy Lyons as Head of People and Organizational Strategy. As a leader, Clare has demonstrated exceptional creative talent and unmatched expertise in the cultural institution space. Her deep insight into human-centered design, combined with 25 years leading experience design for cultural institutions, sets her apart. Working with fellow ECD Michael Lewis, Clare will be instrumental in shaping the future of G&A and elevating its creative output.

Meanwhile, Christy is a highly experienced HR entrepreneur who is passionate about working with leadership teams to implement the best HR and talent practices to create an innovative and positive work environment. At G&A, she’ll be responsible for evolving G&A’s organizational design and development, connecting people-centered initiatives to the firm’s strategic goals as well as shaping and nurturing culture. 

“These promotions reflect both the exceptional talent we've cultivated at G&A and our vision for the future of experience design,” adds G&A CEO Scott Wickstrom. “But this is about more than expanding our leadership team – it's about amplifying G&A's commitment to pioneering experience design. With these exceptional leaders at the helm, we're perfectly positioned to push creative boundaries while offering clients something rare in the industry: truly integrated solutions – from strategic planning to comprehensive design and production capabilities – from a single, interdisciplinary team."

About G&A

Internationally recognized as a design leader, G&A is on a pioneering mission to synthesize the physical and digital worlds in a way no other firm can. Relentless curiosity fuels our passion for working with the best partners to build community experiences led by their profound stories. As interdisciplinary practitioners, we thrive in the unscripted dynamics of our work to provide unparalleled strategic and creative services. For more, visit: https://gallagherdesign.com