VANN GRAVES
Mr. Graves has been a member of our board of directors since March 2021. Since August 2018, Mr. Graves has served as Executive Director of the Brandcenter at Virginia Commonwealth University (“VCU”), a master's program for advertising, branding and creative problem-solving that is part of the VCU School of Business. Prior to joining the Brandcenter, he served as Chief Creative Officer at the advertising agency of J. Walter Thompson, Atlanta, from 2015 to 2018; EVP, Global Executive Creative Director and Group Creative Director at the advertising agency of McCann New York from 2009 to 2015; Chief Creative Officer at the multicultural marketing and advertising agency of Uniworld Group, New York from 2007 to 2009; in multiple roles including VP, Creative Director at the advertising agency of BBDO New York from 1993 to 2007; and, in 2015, he was a CoFounder at FL+G, a full-service branding agency in Denver, Colorado. His work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including Cannes Lions, Grand London International Awards, a Grand Clio and the D&AD Graphite Pencil. In addition to time spent on the Ad Council’s Creative Review Committee and One Club for Creativity’s AdVersity Board, he currently sits on the boards for 600 & Rising, 4A’s Foundation and The 3% Movement.
A Fulbright scholar, Mr. Graves received a B.A. from Howard University, a Master of Science in Communications Design from the Pratt Institute, a Master of Liberal Arts from Harvard University and a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a veteran of the United States Army, Reserve Component.
Mr. Graves’ extensive work in marketing, branding and design brings valuable knowledge and insights to the board of directors.