McGarrah Jessee
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 1996
- Employees
- 51-200
- Offices
- 1
About McGarrah Jessee
McGarrah Jessee is an independent creative and brand development agency based in Austin, Texas. Founded in August 1996 by Mark McGarrah and Bryan Jessee, it combines business and brand strategy with advertising, design, media and production. Its work spans the broader brand experience, connecting positioning and visual identity with campaigns, packaging, retail environments and digital experiences.
The agency’s strategic practice includes business model analysis, consumer segmentation, and qualitative and quantitative research. Creative teams develop work for television, outdoor advertising, print, digital and social channels, while its design practice covers identity systems, lettering, packaging, retail experiences and UX/UI. Media capabilities include planning and buying, programmatic advertising, search engine optimization and audience intelligence. Together, these disciplines support projects ranging from brand definition to campaign execution and ongoing audience engagement.
Integrated creative and production
Film, editorial, sound design, animation and social content production form part of the agency’s internal capabilities. Rabbit Foot, its film and video production division, launched in 2015 with director Jeff Bednarz. Look Squirrel provides an internal studio for social content and agile digital production. These teams allow production to connect directly with the agency’s strategy, creative and design work.
Long-term brand relationships
McGarrah Jessee’s history includes sustained partnerships with consumer, financial services, food and beverage, outdoor and music brands. Frost Bank has worked with the agency since 1997, while relationships with Whataburger and Shiner Beers began in 2003. Its collaboration with YETI began in 2012 and encompassed product launches, retail design and documentary storytelling.
The agency’s portfolio also includes work for Costa Sunglasses, Fender, Instacart and Lyft. Across these relationships, its output extends beyond advertising campaigns to physical brand experiences, conservation storytelling, product presentation and experiential activations. This breadth reflects an operating approach that brings several creative and commercial disciplines together around a client’s brand.
More about McGarrah Jessee
Leadership and founders
- Britton Upham serves as Chief Executive Officer, Jason Campbell as Chief Creative Officer, and Klaire Hensley as Head of Growth.
- Before founding the agency, Mark McGarrah and Bryan Jessee worked at GSD&M and had previously collaborated at The Richards Group.
Working approach
The agency describes its culture as “radically people-first,” with an emphasis on avoiding structural silos between creative, strategy, media and design disciplines. This is the company's description of its operating approach.
Historic preservation and growth
- The agency spearheaded rehabilitation of the 1954 American National Bank Building in 2009. The landmark features interiors originally designed by Florence Knoll and a monumental mural by Seymour Fogel.
- In July 2012, McGarrah Jessee acquired digital agency Exopolis and integrated it into its internal digital and interactive design practice.
Notable credits
8 creditsOffices
Where McGarrah Jessee is based
- Austin, Texas, United States
Austin offices
HeadquartersAbout this office
**Austin Headquarters** Status: active Headquarters Address: 121 W. 6th Street, incorporating expanded facilities at 111 W. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701, United States Phone: +1 512-225-2000 Opened: 2010 Overall company headquarters housing creative, strategy, design, media and executive teams, including the internal Rabbit Foot and Look Squirrel production units. --- **Office** Status: inactive / historical Address: 205 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701 Closed: 2010 Former agency premises, superseded by the relocation to the current headquarters in November 2010.
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