Meet Andrew McKechnie

GC

Let's start from the beginning. How did your interest in marketing and design first develop? What made you decide to pursue it as a career?

AM

I’ve always been interested in the intersection of design, culture and technology, even from a young age. Starting on my professional journey as a copywriter in the advertising industry exposed me to all the different manifestations of creativity and innovation, and ultimately led me to understanding how those expressions can influence our culture. To me, building iconic brands is the perfect platform for applying creativity to solve tough business challenges and creating meaningful change in society.

GC

Based on your experience in agencies and brand-side roles, what do you think technology brands need today to achieve success?

AM

Part of a tech brand's role is to help educate and inspire, creating relevance of its technology in people's lives. Narratives should be simple and unique, creating diverse stories that resonate authentically at a human level. Often, technology fails to achieve this because it can feel cold or too functional; it lacks the emotional element. Brands succeed when they strike a balance between innovation, aspiration and relatability. The ones who do it right inspire people by demonstrating how their products can meaningfully impact their daily lives.

GC

Your leadership, insight and experience are world-class. Why did you choose to join us?

AM

A cultural shift is occurring, particularly among younger generations, as more people speak up about harmful habits that have shaped our society. Brands are waking up to the reality that society is changing and people are demanding more sustainable and responsible practices. I’ve always championed purpose-led work and purpose-built brands, so I love AIR COMPANY’s belief that science and technology can solve some of the toughest challenges of our time and help humanity progress on a more sustainable path. 

I also love to build things. That’s always been important to me. Both personally and professionally. So I seek out opportunities that allow me to build new skill sets and capabilities in new spaces. That’s been a consistent theme of the pivots I have made throughout my career. I really enjoy the process of creating a new organization, establishing a team culture, mentoring talent or building a brand. That's my happy place. 

I’m excited to be part of a company that fundamentally believes that culture, creativity and innovation can be successful tools for business growth. Not something that needs to be justified or ring-fenced every day. AIR COMPANY understands the true power of brand marketing and is a company where culture, purpose and employee wellness aren't manufactured but are core to its values. 

GC

You're intimately familiar with the capabilities that marketing departments must focus on for maximum impact, visibility, and scalability. What will help us as we focus on customer acquisition and expanding the audience for our technology and products?

AM

Beyond just making things, we’re actually in the business of fundamentally transforming how things are made. We are essentially reshaping the building blocks of industry through new, sustainable methods that will have a transformative impact on our future. Using our story to encourage advocacy for new technologies such as ours is going to be crucial in the effort to grow our industry and decarbonize the planet. We must create conversations across different communities about shifting the foundational elements that have gotten us to this place but also inspire people through new products that help to capture the potential of our technology and impact.

GC

What is one thing you wish people knew about the climate technology industry?

AM

There’s a monumental shift of talent happening right now within the climate and sustainability space. A significant number of established professionals from traditional industries are dedicating themselves to solving the climate crisis. Simultaneously, a younger generation is entering the workforce, fully prepared to tackle the issue head-on. The convergence of these two talent pools will be a fascinating thing to watch as the industry evolves.