Luke Sullivan

Luke Sullivan is an American author, consultant, and professor in the area of advertising and marketing communication. He is the former Chief Creative Officer of GSD&M advertising agency and author of multiple books on the topics of marketing and advertising.

Sullivan is a recognized leader in the campaigns of some of the best-known brands in the world, including Southwest Airlines, Wal-Mart, Frito-Lay, and McDonald's. His career in the advertising industry spans over four decades since joining GSD&M in 1974.

Sullivan has long been recognized as an expert and is a frequent speaker at advertising and marketing events. He has been inducted into the American Advertising Association Hall Of Fame and was voted one of the top 100 advertising people of the twentieth century.

Sullivan’s books on the subject of marketing communication have been amongst the bestsellers for more than a decade, and over 5 million copies have been sold worldwide. His most popular book is “Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: The Classic Guide to Creating Great Ads” which was first published in 1998. This book is a comprehensive guide to the principles, processes, and practices of advertising from an industry perspective. It has been referred to as the ‘how to’ guide for advertising professionals.

Along with “Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This” Sullivan has authored other popular books such as “Advertising Creative: Strategy, Copy, Design”, “MaxiMarketing”, “Above the Line: How to Create Great Advertising”, and “Fifty Guiding Principles of Advertising”. In all of his writings, Sullivan emphasizes the connection between copy and design in creating effective ad campaigns.

In addition to his writing, Sullivan has taught at the University of Texas at Austin and is a professor emeritus at The University of Colorado. He has also served as a consultant at Leo Burnett, Saatchi and Saatchi, and Interpublic Group.

Outside of advertising and marketing, Sullivan is involved in a number of charitable activities. He is an avid supporter for many organizations like the Harlem Children’s Zone, Museum of Broadcast Communications, and the Kellog School of Management.

Luke Sullivan’s influence in the marketing communications industry is undeniable and his writing continues to be widely recommended to aspiring and seasoned marketing and advertising professionals alike.