After spending the first half of his advertising career split between the client side (Pepsi, American Home Products, et al) and agency side (Grey Advertising), Ellis decided to do the type of advertising that was so desperately lacking in the industry: strong strategic thinking buffeted by even stronger creative work that would help define an era for Madison Avenue. The one-man Ells Verdi & Partners agency that took flight in 1989 began to soar four years later when Ellis partnered with long-time creative director Sal DeVito. For more than 35 years, DeVito/Verdi has been one of the most acclaimed and influential advertising agencies. Named “The Best Agency In the U.S.” six times by the American Association of Advertising Agencies, DeVito/Verdi has garnered thousands of creative awards, created some of the most talked-about ads of the past quarter-century and has stoked controversy and debate with scores of campaigns that have garnered national attention. A former board member of the National Retail Federation, and a current board member of The Partnership for New York City, Ellis has overseen successful ad campaigns for national and regional retailers, political candidates, packaged goods brands, socially-conscious organizations, media companies, hospitals and numerous other categories.