Gerry Graf has not sold his soul, damn it Little lads obsessed with berries and cream. Macho moms who love Combos. Skittles leaks. Gerry Graf can dish out the funny. But can he take it? Sometimes not, judging by reports from the executive creative director’s going-away party from TBWA\Chiat\Day last week. At the event, held at Le Colonial on East 57th Street, TBWA worldwide CEO Tom Carroll presented Graf, who’s heading to Saatchi & Saatchi, with a giant check for a “gazillion” dollars, mock “signed” by Saatchi CEO Kevin Roberts. On the memo line were the words, “For your soul.” Graf’s reaction? “He wasn’t all that happy,” says a source. Though it was meant as a goof, Graf evidently took it as kind of a cheap shot. Leaving aside the question of whether it’s even possible to impugn the integrity of someone who works in advertising, we’ll assume Graf simply wanted to feel the lovemarks at his send-off, rather than suffer jokes at his expense. Whatever the case, for his new employer’s sake, hopefully he hasn’t lost his sense of humor permanently. —Posted by Tim Nudd

February 13, 2008 in Nudd | Permalink

Comments

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Yo, Graf, you and your serial-killer haircut need to get over yourselves. You sold your soul the day you went into advertising.

Posted by: Wentley von Aimsworth the III | Feb 13, 2008 10:29:54 AM

Absolutely. Take the money and run, Gerry.

Posted by: Stark M | Feb 13, 2008 11:12:32 AM

But I heard he's actually making 2 gazillion.

Posted by: Dougal | Feb 13, 2008 11:54:29 AM

Cuz TBWA Chiat Day is just a little mom and pop shop.

Posted by: El Bulto | Feb 13, 2008 12:08:23 PM

noBody pays more dinero than senor omnicom

Posted by: chi chi | Feb 13, 2008 3:18:12 PM

First!!!lol...

Posted by: Ray Rubicam | Feb 13, 2008 4:09:02 PM

seriously. if there was ONE collective soul in the industry as a whole, id be suprised.

Posted by: slacker | Feb 13, 2008 4:09:18 PM

Watching those Creativity videos online, Gerry seems like a not so funny guy.

Posted by: | Feb 13, 2008 4:53:38 PM

Watching those Creativity videos online, Gerry seems like a not so funny guy.

Posted by: John | Feb 13, 2008 4:54:10 PM

What a wanker.

Posted by: English Bloke | Feb 14, 2008 1:18:41 PM

"Watching those Creativity videos online, Gerry seems like a not so funny guy."

waitwaitwait, did you guys grab that image from a creativity online video? better switch it before your editor takes away your vacation days!

Posted by: james | Feb 14, 2008 5:52:40 PM

It's 3 gazillion + 5 extra vacay days.

Posted by: financeguy | Feb 15, 2008 12:55:45 PM

If I were him, I'd be pissed too. It's not even funny or original. They must have really not liked him at TBWA to give him that kind of mean-spirited sendoff.

Posted by: Schrodinger's Copywriter | Feb 15, 2008 5:05:18 PM

'...whether it’s even possible to impugn the integrity of someone who works in advertising..."?

Really? That's sort of an insult to everyone in the business. Some people may have 'issues' with advertising as a chosen profession, and if so, they should probably move on to something else. I actually like what I do, and I know quite a few people in this business with a ton of personal and professional integrity.

Posted by: Tag | Feb 15, 2008 5:51:30 PM

If you knew Gerry you would understand his genius

Posted by: Cosmo | Feb 26, 2008 10:35:48 PM

c'mon, that is a pretty amusing send-off.

would've been a lot funnier had he been leaving the employ of Habitat for Humanity, though.

Posted by: biscuit | Jun 1, 2008 3:04:31 PM

Anyone know who he is bringing on board at saatchi?

Posted by: mark h | Jun 11, 2008 3:31:29 PM

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