Vann Graves

Creativity and leadership have run parallel throughout the career of Vann Graves, and we’re thrilled to welcome him as our March CreativeMornings/Richmond speaker.
As the Executive Director of the Brandcenter, Vann brings 25+ years of creative, business, and executive leadership experience, having worked with some of the world’s leading brands, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, MasterCard, Visa, GE, and M&Ms. His work has been recognized with top industry honors, including a Cannes Titanium Lion, a Grand London International Award, a Grand Clio, and a D&AD Graphite Pencil.
Beyond his extensive agency leadership—including roles as Chief Creative Officer at J. Walter Thompson, EVP, Global Executive Creative Director at McCann New York, and VP, Creative Director at BBDO New York—Vann also co-founded FL+G, a full-service branding agency in Denver. His experience extends into education and mentorship, having served as Dean of the Cannes Creative Academy from 2022-2024 and as an active member of the ANA Educational Foundation board, the EAB Innovators Council, and The One Club’s Faculty Advisory Committee.
Vann’s military background informs his leadership philosophy, placing a high value on collaboration, commitment, and the pursuit of innovation and high-quality creative work. A Fulbright scholar, he holds degrees from Howard University, the Pratt Institute, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Join us as Vann explores the parallel paths of creativity, leadership, and innovation—and shares how finding intersections between them leads to groundbreaking work!