The Gerety Awards gathered last week on the 26th floor of McCann’s offices to celebrate New York’s 2025 winners.
Guests attended a discussion titled Stories That Reshape Us: Listening, Learning and Rewriting Representation, moderated by Katherine Naylor Pullman, CEO and Founder of Our Third Place. The panel examined how embracing underrepresented voices in storytelling can reshape the creative landscape, reflecting the values and ethos of Ilon Specht, whose work inspired 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 about the people and experiences that influence their work. They also discussed ways to ensure these perspectives are integrated into the creative process.
As the discussion concluded, the celebration continued over drinks and food, with Gerety winners taking photos with the Gerety Grand Prix trophy and reconnecting with friends and peers.
“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.
