LOS ANGELES, USA // Ryan Lehr didn’t take a straight path into advertising – he chose the scenic one. Originally moving to LA to attend the Art Center in Pasadena, Ryan quickly found himself bouncing around Hollywood looking for a place for his diverse talents. After stints wrangling comics at the legendary The Comedy Store and fetching Ryan Reynolds coffee on the set of his first TV show, he then found himself walking into an ad agency for the first time. But Ryan didn’t interview at TBWA\Chiat\Day LA for a creative job. No, it was for an open receptionist position. Surrounded by zipping scooters, barking dogs, and a full-length basketball court, Ryan knew he’d finally stumbled into his place. Over the past two decades, Ryan has built his career in the LA ad scene – rising from those humble beginnings answering phones to become Co-Chief Creative Officer of Deutsch LA. At Chiat Day Ryan bonded over late-night foosball games with a group that would later found Omelet. This group gave Ryan his first creative job in advertising, and as Omelet’s 4th employee Ryan helped grow the shop from a handful of scrappy entrepreneurial creatives into one of LA’s most respected independents – writing, directing, and sometimes even appearing in campaigns for Microsoft, Marvel, Activision, HBO, ABC, FOX, The Oscars and The Coffee Bean.
After 5 years at Omelet, Ryan eventually returned to Chait Day as a Senior Copywriter to lead campaigns for Pepsi, Fritto Lay, and Visa. In 2012, Ryan took an opportunity to join Deutsch as an ACD on Dr Pepper. Ryan has now spent the past 14 years helping define the agency’s creative voice and reputation for building worlds audiences want to live in. His Fansville campaign for Dr Pepper—now entering its eighth season—has become one of advertising’s most enduring branded universes, earning Gold Effie and Gold Sports Clio honors along the way.
Today, as Co-Chief Creative Officer at Deutsch, he now co-leads the agency, guiding it to Adweek’s 2024 Agency of the Year and being named one of Fast Companies most Innovative Agencies. In 2023, Dr Pepper passed Pepsi to become the 2nd favorite soda in the US, in large part due to the marketing efforts led by Ryan and his team – a feet that seemed all but impossible just few short years ago. His leadership has also shaped standout work for Snapple, Taco Bell, PetSmart, and Behr, blending entertainment instincts with cultural timing to turn brands into living IP. Most recently, Ryan took Nerdwallet to their Super Bowl debut along with a talking beluga whale voiced by Oscar winner, Kieran Culkin.
Ryan has been honored to serve as a judge for AICP, The One Show, and the Clios, and his work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, D&AD, Effies, and Clio Awards. Ryan’s fingerprints extend outside of advertising too. He’s written and sold pilots to FOX, Spike, and Adult Swim. He’s also directed films for Taco Bell, Motorola, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. And his love of comedy and music often collides in his ad work, whether it’s crafting original songs for NerdWallet’s “Future You” (shortlisted at Cannes) or teaming up with Yung Gravy to drop a Dr Pepper flavor launch as a full-blown music video.
Born in South Bend, Indiana, as a die-hard Notre Dame fan, Ryan was later raised under the San Diego sun. He studied at the University of Arizona, San Diego City College, and Art Center College of Design. He and his wife, Cara, now call the Marina del Rey home, where they live with their two sons and one accident prone cat.