Gerry Graf

Gerry’s writing career began at the University of Notre Dame as a staff writer and producer for the school’s infamous Keenan Revue.

In 1995, Gerry joined BBDO/NY and quickly rose to creative director. His work on Snickers was honored as Campaign of the Year by Adweek and Commercial of the Year by AdAge. In 1997, BBDO was named Agency of the Year at the Cannes International Advertising Festival.

At 29, Gerry was promoted to Executive Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi London. Oh, no, sorry, that was David Droga. Never mind.

In 1998, Gerry joined Goodby, Silverstein and Partners. AdAge named Goodby Agency of the Year in both 1999 and 2000.

Gerry was named one of the Most Influential People in the Internet Economy by Industry Standard Magazine for his work on E*Trade. The E*Trade commercial “Monkey” has since been named one of the Top 5 Super Bowl Ads of All Time by USA Today.

Adage would go on to name three of Gerry’s commercials to their list of the 20 Best Super … read moreBowl Ads of All Time.

In 2001, Gerry returned to BBDO as their youngest Executive Creative Director. AdAge’s Creativity magazine named BBDO/NY Agency of the Year in 2001.

After 9/11, Mayor Giuliani named Gerry to his marketing team to bring tourism back to NYC. This was without a doubt Gerry’s proudest moment as an advertising executive.

In 2004, Lee Clow asked Gerry to run TBWA/Chiat/Day/NY.

In 2006, AdAge named Gerry one of the 50 “biggest and best thinkers and doers from 20 years of advertising and consumer culture”. He would go on to be named to their annual list of the “50 most influential and creative thinkers” in 2008, 2009, and 2013.

In 2007, AdAge named TBWA/NY the Most Awarded Agency and Gerry the Most Awarded Creative Director in the World.

In 2008, Gerry was named Chief Creative Officer of Saatchi & Saatchi NY and member of the Worldwide Executive Board. In 2009, Gerry’s work on JC Penney was awarded the World Retail Award for Best Digital Retail Advertising. Gerry also helped win General Mills its first ever Gold Lion at Cannes. AdAge named Saatchi NY the 3rd Most Awarded Agency and Gerry the 3rd Most Awarded Creative Director in the World. The Gunn Report named Saatchi’s Crest campaign The Most Awarded Campaign in the World.

Tired of growing other people’s companies, Gerry launched his own agency, Barton F. Graf, in 2010.

The agency was named Top Agency To Watch by AdAge in 2011 and has been on the A-List every year since.

In 2014, Barton was named Mid-Size Agency of the Year by the 4A’s.

Barton was also named the 5th Most Innovative Advertising Agency by Fast Company. And Gerry made the their list of the “100 Most Creative People In Business”.

Forbes named Barton one of the 14 Most Influential Agencies in America. Business Insider named Gerry "The Most Creative Man In Advertising". Newsweek called him one of the "New Don Drapers".

Gerry was also named to the Facebook Creative Council. And PBS featured the agency as one of the new innovative shops in “The Real Mad Men of Madison Ave.”

Gerry lives in Manhattan with his wife, three kids.
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