The founder and Creative Director at a Chicago-based boutique agency has been selected to serve as the 2017 Chief Judge for the 26th annual Radio Mercury Awards competition.
Mark G
ross, who recently launched Highdive Advertising with fellow DDB Chicago colleague and Radio Mercury Award winner Chad Broude, led creative on some of the agency’s biggest accounts — including Capital One, Cars.com, Bud Light and Mars-Wrigley.
He’s probably best known for the late 1990s Bud Light “Real Men of Genius” campaign — the most awarded campaign in advertising history. He’s won three Best in Show Radio Mercury Awards, two Cannes Radio Grand Prix Lions, a Radio Grand Andy and a Radio Grand Clio.
Gross has also served as President of the inaugural Cannes Radio Jury, and President of the Clio Radio Jury.
“Captivating movies, engaging books, powerful stage plays, sticky songs, memorable radio advertising — they all share one thing: great storytelling,” Gross said. “The panel of judges and I will be looking for the campaigns and spots that draw us in with unforgettable and fascinating stories that you can only tell on the radio.”
RAB President/CEO Erica Farber, who chairs the Radio Creative Fund, added, “Mark has been a part of so many Radio Mercury Award-winning spots and campaigns that we’ve lost count. His roster of work could be a curriculum of how to create award-winning radio advertising. We are thrilled he will lead this year’s judging and ensure that the best of the best are awarded in June.”
Award categories for the 2017 Radio Mercury Awards will be announced later this month, along with Call for Entry guidelines and deadlines. For more information, log on to www.radiomercuryawards.com.
