Vann Graves currently serves as executive director of the Brandcenter at Virginia Commonwealth University. He brings 25+ years of creative, business, and executive leadership experience, having worked with some of the world’s leading global brands, such as Shell, American Airlines, Cigna, Lockheed Martin, Coca-Cola, MasterCard, the U.S. Army, AT&T, GE, M&Ms, Snickers, Visa and others. A strong team leader, Vann puts a high value on collaboration and commitment to support innovation and high-quality creative work.

Prior to joining the Brandcenter, Vann served as Chief Creative Officer at J. Walter Thompson ATL; 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 Co. His work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including Cannes Lions, the Grand London International Award, a Grand Clio, and the D&AD Graphite Pencil.

Vann’s military experience contributes to his approach to creative leadership. A Fulbright scholar, he holds degrees from Howard University, the Pratt Institute, and Harvard University.