Jerry Grady

Working in advertising in the 1980s, I often found myself having conversations with colleagues about our careers— how we could maximize our talent or deal with the inevitable ups and downs of the ad business. Still working in advertising in 1991, I sat down with Jim Ward to talk about my career and what the next stage might look like. Very quickly it became clear that joining him in the search business made a lot of sense: leveraging my industry experience and personal interests to help build a relationship-based search firm. Now, over 25 years later and having been fortunate enough to have enjoyed a lot of success, we think it was a pretty good call!

I have led engagements across a broad array of industries, from financial services and healthcare to consumer goods and professional services. I take particular satisfaction in working with clients who hope to attract leaders brought in to provide new vision and direction.

Prior to helping start The Ward Group in 1993, I was Director of the Marketing Practice at Roth Young/Boston and held a variety of account management positions in advertising agencies in New York and Boston. I made my way into the advertising business after graduating from the University of Vermont and spending my first few years working in the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. 

Living in Arlington, just outside Boston, I enjoy the mix of urban energy with the ease of getting out of town. With my daughter Georgia launched and my son Owen not far behind, I try to make the most of my free time being outdoors, traveling, playing as well as following sports, and — every now and then — enjoying a pint of IPA.