Gerry Graf of TBWA/Chiat/Day New York To serve as 2006 Chief Judge for the Radio-Mercury Awards

New York, New York – March 6, 2006 – Gerry Graf, Executive Creative Director at TBWA/ Chiat/ Day New York, will serve as Chief Judge of the 2006 Radio-Mercury Awards, the richest Radio creative awards competition.

In his current role at TBWA/ Chiat/ Day New York, Graf has been credited with directing the creative resurgence of the agency while working on such campaigns as Absolut, Nextel, Skittles, Starburst, and Embassy Suites.  Beginning his career with an internship at Saatchi and Saatchi, Graf landed his first job at Wells Rich Greene.

In 1994, he joined BBDO where he helped create the Snicker’s “Not going anywhere for a while?” campaign, which was named Adweek’s Campaign of the Year for 1997. From there, Graf joined Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco, and then returned to BBDO New York as Executive Creative Director. 

“I’m very excited and honored to serve as chief judge for the 2006 Radio-Mercury Awards.  The spots submitted to this competition are the highest caliber of creative Radio,” noted Graf.  “Radio is all about great writing. It’s just you and a pen. Great Radio can be more effective and more rewarding than any other medium. I look forward to the experience.”

“We are thrilled that Gerry will lend his expertise to serving as Chief Judge of this year’s Radio-Mercury Awards,” commented Gary Fries, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and Co-Chairman of the Radio Creative Fund (RCF).  “Radio creative requires skill and talent.  The Radio-Mercury Awards is a way to hearten, distinguish, and reward the creative practice of Radio writing and producing.”

The Radio-Mercury Awards recognizes and rewards excellence in Radio creative with $165,000 in cash prizes, including the coveted $100,000 Grand Prize.  Entry deadline is this Friday, March 10th.  The late deadline is March 17th. 

This year’s gala awards luncheon and ceremony will be held at the landmark Cipriani on East 42nd Street on June 8TH.  For more information on the Radio-Mercury Awards, or to enter, please visit www.RadioMercuryAwards.com, or call 212-681-7207.

The Radio-Mercury Awards were established in 1992 to encourage and reward the development of effective and creative Radio commercials.   Approximately 14,000 commercials have competed for over $2.4 million in prizes.  The Radio Creative Fund (RCF), a non-profit corporation funded by the Radio industry, governs the Radio-Mercury Awards.

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