# Derris, an Orchestra company

> Derris is a New York-founded brand consultancy that helps consumer and enterprise companies define, launch, and scale their stories through positioning, identity, earned media, content, social strategy, partnerships, events, and executive counsel. Founded in 2013 by Jesse Derris and Lisa Frank, it became closely associated with the direct-to-consumer wave and now operates within Orchestra while retaining the Derris name.

- **Founded:** 2013
- **Headquarters:** New York, United States
- **Founders:** Jesse Derris (Co-founder; President of Orchestra), Lisa Frank (Co-founder and CEO)
- **Products:** Brand development, Scaling narratives, First-chair counsel, Project Mercury
- **Notable:** Helped launch or scale a roster of defining direct-to-consumer brands including Warby Parker, Glossier, Everlane, Reformation, Harry's, and Away., Expanded from New York to London and grew to more than 75 employees by the time of its 2022 majority investment., Built a scope extending beyond media relations into brand identity, social and content strategy, market entry, events, crisis counsel, and IPO readiness.

## Products & services

- **Brand development** — Positioning, messaging, strategic planning, creative consultation, launch strategy, identity and voice development, and site and asset creation.
- **Scaling narratives** — Consumer and enterprise storytelling, thought leadership, market entry, partnerships, influencer relations, social and content strategy, campaigns, copywriting, affiliate marketing, and events.
- **First-chair counsel** — Crisis and change communications, corporate and internal communications, IPO readiness, and media training.
- **Project Mercury** — A 2019 joint venture with creative agency Mythology designed to work with a small number of very early-stage founders on brand and communications from the start.

## Achievements

- Helped launch or scale a roster of defining direct-to-consumer brands including Warby Parker, Glossier, Everlane, Reformation, Harry's, and Away.
- Expanded from New York to London and grew to more than 75 employees by the time of its 2022 majority investment.
- Built a scope extending beyond media relations into brand identity, social and content strategy, market entry, events, crisis counsel, and IPO readiness.
- Founder Jesse Derris was named to PRWeek's 40 Under 40.
- Joined the Orchestra platform while retaining the Derris brand and operating identity.

## Latest updates

- **2024-03** — Lisa Frank became CEO of Derris; Jesse Derris moved into a strategy role at the newly branded parent company, Orchestra.
- **2024-09** — Orchestra acquired Civitas Public Affairs Group, continuing to broaden the platform around Derris.
- **2024-10** — Orchestra acquired Small Girls PR, expanding its earned-media and experiential capabilities and taking the wider group to roughly 700 people.
- **2026** — Derris describes a team of more than 75 across New York and London and organizes its offer around brand development, scaling narratives, and first-chair counsel.

## Links

- Website: https://www.derris.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/derris-%26-company/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/derriscompany
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearederris/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/DerrisCompany/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/derris-an-orchestra-company
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-24