Last week, the Gerety Awards gathered on the 26th floor of McCann’s offices to celebrate New York’s 2025 winners.
Guests were treated to a lively and thought-provoking discussion, Stories That Reshape Us: Listening, Learning and Rewriting Representation, moderated by Katherine Naylor Pullman, CEO and Founder of Our Third Place.
The conversation explored how embracing underrepresented voices in storytelling can reshape the creative landscape, reflecting the values and ethos of the mighty Ilon Specht, the inspiration behind the evening’s theme.
Panelists Suzanne Ayello (Managing Partner of L’Oréal U.S. for McCann), Brendan Gaul (McCann’s Global Chief Entertainment Officer), and Keni Thacker (Founder and Chief Creative Officer of 100 Roses From Concrete) shared personal stories of the characters and experiences that inspire their work. They discussed how to ensure these lessons are woven into the creative process.
As the panel concluded, conversation flowed into the evening over drinks and nibbles. Gerety winners took photos with the Gerety Grand Prix trophy, reconnecting with old friends and forming new creative connections. Winners posed for the camera with the Gerety trophy, reconnecting with old friends and forming new creative connections.s
“A huge thank you to our friends and partners at McCann for such a wonderful evening in New York,” said Lucia Ongay, Co-Founder of the Gerety Awards. “It’s always inspiring to see our community come together to celebrate creativity and conversation that truly matters. Next stop: Los Angeles — followed by Milan, London, Madrid, São Paulo, Berlin, Melbourne, and more. We can’t wait to continue this global celebration.”
The New York celebration follows recent Gerety winners’ events in Paris and sets the stage for the upcoming Los Angeles cocktail on November 5 at Eleanor, Santa Monica. Take a look at some photos from the event below:
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