Dr. Graves joined the Brandcenter as executive director in 2018. He brings 25+ years of creative, business, and executive leadership experience, having worked with some of the world’s leading global brands (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, MasterCard, Visa, GE, and M&Ms, to name a few). His work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including a Cannes Titanium Lion, a Grand London International Award, a Grand Clio, and a D&AD Graphite Pencil. Vann served as Dean of the Cannes Creative Academy from 2022-2024 and continues to serve as a member of the ANA Educational Foundation board, the EAB Innovators Council, and The One Club’s Faculty Advisory Committee.
Graves’ military experience contributes to his approach to leadership; he puts a high value on collaboration and commitment to support innovation and high-quality creative work. Prior to the Brandcenter, he served as a Chief Creative Officer at J. Walter Thompson; EVP, Global Executive Creative Director at McCann New York; VP, Creative Director at BBDO New York; and CoFounder at FL+G, a full-service branding agency in Denver.
A Fulbright scholar, Graves holds degrees from Howard University, the Pratt Institute, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
