John Duncan Joins Shutterstock Studios as Vice President, Head of Global Sales

​Shutterstock Studios, the end-to-end creative production arm of Shutterstock, has hired John Duncan as vice president, head of global sales, where he will lead global commercial strategy and client partnerships for the company’s growing creative production division.

John brings more than two decades of experience leading global sales, strategy, and creative teams across media, brand, and production organisations. His career includes senior leadership roles at VICE, Leafly, and most recently 1021 Creative, where he worked closely with some of the world’s most influential brands - including YouTube, Apple, Lululemon, ECCO, WPP, Havas, GSK, Unilever, Omnicom, and McCann - to craft stories that connect culture and commerce.

“I’ve always believed in the power of a story to shift culture and influence behaviour,” said John. “What excites me most about Shutterstock Studios is not only the creative ambition, but the people behind it. Having the chance to work with Aiden again - and other former VICE colleagues - feels like a full-circle moment. As I’ve grown in my career, I’ve realised it’s the people who make the difference. This team represents everything that’s great about the industry: good humans doing great work, embracing change, and using creativity to move culture forward.”

John added, “Shutterstock Studios is leading the way in how technology - from Virtual Production to AI - can bring a fresh, modern approach to storytelling. It feels different. And doing that within the respected, trusted, and global brand of Shutterstock is an incredible opportunity.”

In his new role, John will focus on scaling Shutterstock Studios’ global partnerships, expanding into new categories, and shaping the next phase of growth for the studio’s creative and commercial offerings. Known for his strategic mindset and collaborative leadership, he will play a key role in driving Shutterstock Studios’ mission to empower brands and agencies with world-class creative solutions backed by innovation and technology.

John holds an MBA from the TRIUM Global Executive Program, a joint program between NYU Stern, LSE, and HEC Paris, where he specialised in global leadership, strategy, and innovation through a curriculum that integrates business, geopolitics, and social insight.

“John’s combination of creative passion, commercial expertise, and global perspective make him the ideal leader to take our client partnerships to the next level,” said Aiden Darné, SVP, global head of Shutterstock Studios. “He understands how creativity, culture, and technology come together to move brands forward - and that’s exactly where Shutterstock Studios is headed.”

With John’s appointment, Shutterstock Studios continues its rapid evolution as a leading global production powerhouse, connecting brands with creative excellence and the latest advances in AI and virtual production technology.