McCann Erickson New York has picked up a new Group Creative Director in R. Vann Graves, who began as an intern at BBDO and rose up through the ranks before becoming CCO of UniWorld Group, then an intern at BBDO (hunh?), before dropping out of the business shortly following the 9/11 attacks to fight in Iraq.

Graves enlisted in the Army, was nominated to receive the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. The former Lieutenant was awarded the Combat Action Badge for outstanding efforts while being actively engaged by anti-U.S. forces, inducted into the Order of the Spur, and received a Purple Heart. Damn. Don't f*ck with this GCD.

He's won some awards over the years, too, so before you go ripping this guy to shreds, remember that he can probably do the same. But with his bare hands. OK who knows if that's true, but this time I'm glad I'm not an account exec. at McCann New York.

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