GERRY GRAF NAMED JOAN CREATIVE’S GLOBAL CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

Gerry Graf has been appointed partner and global chief creative officer of JOAN Creative, joining forces with co-founder and CEO Lisa Clunie in a long-awaited creative partnership. Graf leaves Slap Global in the hands of Maxi Itzkoff, while his move signals a new chapter for JOAN’s creative ambitions.  

Gerry Graf, one of advertising’s most celebrated creative leaders, has taken on the role of partner and global chief creative officer at JOAN Creative. The appointment reunites Graf with JOAN’s co-founder and CEO Lisa Clunie, drawing on nearly two decades of friendship and professional respect to shape a new era for the agency.  

Graf departs Slap Global, the agency he co-founded, leaving it under the leadership of Maxi Itzkoff. Slap Global will continue to operate independently, with Graf praising its team of 30 as “some of the best I’ve ever worked with.” Yet, he described the opportunity at JOAN as “fate,” recalling conversations with Clunie dating back to their Saatchi days about starting an agency together. “It seems like the universe decided now is the time,” he said.  

Reflecting on the partnership, Graf emphasised Clunie’s leadership qualities: “Lisa is smart, direct, an incredible leader, and doesn’t put up with my BS. The opportunity to take JOAN to the next level was impossible to pass up.” Clunie’s vision and Graf’s creative pedigree are expected to drive JOAN’s next chapter of growth and innovation.  

Graf’s career spans decades of groundbreaking work at agencies including BBDO and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. He helped create Snickers’ enduring ‘Not going anywhere for a while?’ platform and the E*TRADE Monkey campaign, whose ‘Dancing Monkey’ spot from Super Bowl XXXIV remains ranked among the top five Super Bowl commercials of all time. His reputation for originality and effectiveness has made him one of the industry’s most influential figures.  

With Graf’s arrival, JOAN Creative is poised to expand its creative impact globally, blending Clunie’s leadership with Graf’s proven ability to deliver work that resonates and drives results. The move underscores the agency’s ambition to elevate its standing in the international advertising landscape.