Mark Gross

Mark Gross

Founder/Creative Director at Highdive Advertising
Chicago, United States

About me

highdiveus.com

Founder/ Creative Director Highdive Advertising LLC.

BIO
Son of a plumbing & heating supply company owner, Mark grew up on the rough streets of the Jersey suburbs. One fateful day in high school Mark’s teacher showed his class a Clio awards highlight reel and from that moment on Mark knew he wanted to be in advertising. That or neurosurgery.

With a BFA from Syracuse, Mark moved to NYC where he got his first job at RGA designing movie titles, logos and handling their in house advertising. Next was Chiat/Day where Mark learned a few things from the legendary Lee Clow. There he worked on MTV, Reebok, American Express, New York Life and The New York Lottery.

With a nudge from his Midwest wife, Mark moved to Chicago in 1993 where he landed an art director position at DDB. Mark rose from Art Director to Executive Creative Director creating award-winning work for multiple clients including McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, Capital One, Discover Card, Anheuser-Busch, Cars.com and Mars/Wrigley. Mark’s most notable work is the Bud Light "Real Men of Genius" campaign, now known for being the most awarded radio campaign in advertising history. In 2012, Business Insider named Mark "one of the top 25 most creative people in advertising. His list of awards includes an Emmy, Grand Andy, Grand Clio, 3 Best of show Radio Mercury Awards, D & AD, Art Director’s Club, New York Festivals and multiple Cannes Lions including two Grand Prixes. Mark’s been a part of more than 75 Super Bowl commercials placing #1 four times on USAToday’s Ad Meter.

Luckily, Mark no longer has his high school mullet.

I also love to cook. Check out my blog at - thebreadandbuddha.com

Awards

Positions

Co-Founder/Creative Director
Highdive Advertising
October 2016 - Present (7 years 5 months)
E.V.P./ Executive Creative Director
Chicago, United States
January 1994 - October 2016 (22 years 9 months)
Junior Art Director
Chiat Day New York
1991 - 1993 (2 years)
Art Director
Chiat Day
1991 - 1993 (2 years)
Freelance Art Director
R Greenberg Associates
1991 (1 year)
Copywriter
Downtown Partners
Chicago, United States
Executive Creative Director
New York, United States
Executive Creative Director
ICF Next
Chicago, United States
Group Creative Director
New York, United States

Education

BFA, Advertising Design

1986 - 1990 (4 years)

Similar Talent

Jose Uribe
FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PUREBLINK INC
Barney Hobson
Exc. Creative Director | Founder
WE ARE Pi
Rick Chant
Exc. Creative Director | Founder
WE ARE Pi
Craig Parsons
Founder, Creative Director
Parsons
Moe Minkara
Founder/ Executive Creative Director
Mink
Masashi Kawamura
Creative Director / Founder
PARTY
Antoine Barthuel
Creative Director Founder
AUSTRALIEGAD
Joris Kuijpers
Founder / Executive Creative Director
The Family

Create a free Talent profile and become a member of AdForum

Get Started