BIOGRAPHY
Combining her love of beauty and fashion with a facility for writing and storytelling, Megan Deem has forged a successful two-decade-plus career in editorial, brand strategy, and retail across all tiers of the market, from luxury to mass. She transitioned from senior positions at industry-leading publications such as Elle, InStyle, and O, The Oprah Magazine to a successful brand and content consultancy where she worked with companies like Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, Drunk Elephant, Pat McGrath Labs, and Stitch Fix while also creating editorial content for Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, Harper’s Bazaar, and others. Megan recently oversaw all copy and content strategy for Bluemercury, the growing national beauty retailer. She lives in New York City with her rescue pug, Manuel, and can never get enough sunscreen or Hi-Chews.
WORK EXPERIENCE
BLUEMERCURY, Associate Creative Director, Copy & Content Strategy | 2021 – 2025
Tasked with helping reposition brand to increase market share and contributed to 4 consecutive years of positive comparable sales growth. Using customer data to optimize content, helped increase email click-to-open rates 30 percent and reduce unsubscription rates 8 percent while sending 30 percent fewer emails and increasing revenue 30 percent versus same period in previous year. Worked with loyalty team to create new go-to-market tactics to nurture and retain within customer lifecycle, resulting in 15 percent loyalty membership growth between 2023 and 2024 and 2 percentage point increase to customer retention rate year-over-year. Integral part of concepting and implementing complete, company-wide rebrand launched September 2024, which increased digital daily average sessions 60 percent. Using learnings from earlier in-store activations to adjust event messaging, helped increase total sales at Augustinus Bader event 451 percent over previous year. Helped increase average order value at SkinCeuticals event 49 percent over previous year. For Sisley-Paris, helped increase store sales 466 percent over previous year with comparable door sales increasing 340 percent. Liaise frequently and directly with senior leadership, integrated marketing, stores, spa, site, proprietary brands, vendor marketing, loyalty, and email teams.
MCD CONSULTING, Senior Brand & Product Marketing Consultant | 2016 – 2021
Led strategic initiatives for more than 10 brands and media outlets, plus 3 startups. Contributed to projects varying in size/scope across strategy (brand, marketing, and content), content (campaign and advertising), and product naming. Brands include: Origins, L’Oréal Paris, Kiehl’s, Frédéric Malle, and Shiseido. Editorial includes: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar (Contributing Beauty Editor), Elle (Interim Beauty Director), Town & Country, and AD.
O, The Oprah Magazine, Executive Beauty Editor | 2014 – 2016
Experimented with new revenue streams (including a revenue-producing pilot) and adapted to shifting consumer engagement. Contributed to all cross-platform beauty copy, as well as fashion news and cross-departmental packages.
InStyle, Senior Editor | 2008 – 2013
Produced largest content volume on fashion team. Developed innovative content vehicles for celebrity partnerships in fashion sections and managed those celebrity/influencer contributors.
Elle, Senior Editor, Beauty and Fitness | 2003 – 2008
Catalyzed award-winning, investigative science-focused beauty content and became authoritative voice in fragrance content.
EDUCATION
New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business. New York, NY, MBA. Specializations: Leadership and Change Management, Marketing, and Strategy.
University of Virginia. Charlottesville, VA, BA. Majors: Foreign Affairs and French Language & Literature.
Phillips Exeter Academy. Exeter, NH.
Pathstream. Data Analytics Professional Certification.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Six-time winner of Fragrance Foundation Award for Editorial Excellence in Fragrance Coverage
Winner of American Academy of Dermatology Golden Triangle Award–Media
The Beautiful Skin Workout (Macmillan Publishers), co-author
Museum of Modern Art Information Desk Volunteer (November 2005 – Present)
Women’s Health Center of West Virginia Development Committee Member (April 2024 – Present)