Cherry Bomb, the New York based strategic branding agency, has found a new creative director in CT Hedden.
As a drag queen by night and former manager of the scene-y downtown fashion haunt Indochine, Hedden has a proven knack for producing memorable experiences that meld high style with the city’s underground subcultures. According to Cherry Bomb founder and chief executive officer Sam Kantrow, that unique ability to engage with niche audiences and curate an on-stage persona is exactly what made Hedden such a desirable candidate for the role.
CT Hedden
Rebecca Smeyne/WWD
“CT doesn’t just read the cultural pulse. He influences it, lives it and is part of it,” Kantrow told WWD. “His taste, through his own process, intuition and perspectives bring the voltage we want embedded in the work we do.”
After 20 years performing on the nightlife circuit, Hedden said he’s obtained an “unobtainable” network of creatives who he can now call on to collaborate.
“Joining Cherry Bomb is a culmination of the path I’ve been carving,” he added. “Sam and the team really saw me. They understood the depth of my perspective and how it could live within business, how it could shape brands, movements and moments that matter. I’m excited to help lead a team that’s so diverse, talented and creatively fearless.”
Hedden will be integral to shaping the overall voice and visuals of Cherry Bomb, which was established last year. The agency’s website is still under construction and as the ‘80s arcade-style graphics read: “No, it’s not ironic.” Although Cherry Bomb labels itself as “decidedly industry non-specific,” over the past year, it has played frequently in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle spaces, working with brands from Tommy Hilfiger to Clinique.
Hedden, who reports to Kantrow, will be put to task immediately. Already, he’s helping to develop a national Uniqlo campaign set to launch in 2026, while also coming up with an immersive activation for La Scène Des Artistes, a new art incubator in Cannes, France and getting Jolimoo, the world’s first gummy supplement aiding in lactose intolerance, off the ground.
