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David Droga

David Droga is an Australian-born advertising executive and , renowned for founding the influential agency in 2006 and serving as CEO of Song from 2021 until his transition to vice chair in September 2025. Over his 37-year career, Droga has earned a reputation as one of the industry's most awarded creatives, with over 70 Lions including six and four Lions, and he holds the distinction of being the youngest inductee into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame. Born in 1969, Droga grew up in an ski resort town, initially aspiring to become a ski instructor before pursuing advertising after winning top student honors at the Australian Writers & Art Directors School. He launched his professional career in the as a copywriter and , rapidly advancing to become a partner and executive at OMON Sydney by age 22, where his team secured Agency of the Year honors twice and four Ads of the Year. In 1996, he joined as executive in and regional for , leading the network to Regional Network of the Year in 1998 and the Singapore office to International Agency of the Year. By 1999, he had relocated to as executive at , guiding the agency to Agency of the Year at in 2002 with campaigns like the "Nurses" spot for the UK's . In 2003, Droga moved to as the worldwide chief creative officer for the Network, where he oversaw global creative strategy before departing to establish in 2006. Under his leadership, grew into a global powerhouse with offices in , , , São Paulo, and , earning Agency of the Year accolades more than 25 times, including and Agency of the Decade for the 2010s. The agency pioneered innovative, socially impactful work, such as the 2007 "Tap Project" to raise awareness for clean water access and the 2014 "I Will What I Want" campaign featuring ballerina . In 2019, acquired for an undisclosed sum, integrating it into Accenture Interactive (rebranded as Accenture ) to bolster the consulting firm's marketing and creative capabilities. As CEO of Song starting in 2021, Droga drove significant expansion, growing annual revenue from $12.5 billion to $19 billion by 2024 through a focus on technology-enabled and client transformations. Notable projects during this period included the 2023 rebrand emphasizing diversity and electric vehicles without featuring cars, and the 2024 Paramount+ advertisement, alongside the Grand Prix-winning film for the Opera House's 50th anniversary. His tenure emphasized blending consulting expertise with bold , exemplified by the 2023 "The First Digital Nation" initiative for addressing . Droga stepped down as CEO in September 2025 after four years, citing a desire to advise , pursue investments, support his foundation, and spend time with family, while crediting his teams for reinventing the agency model at the intersection of and technology. Beyond , he serves on the board of New York's and advocates for environmental and artistic causes.

Early life and education

Early life

David Bjorn Droga was born on 27 July 1968 in , . He was the fifth of six children in his family. Droga's mother, Vibeke Droga, was a , artist, and environmental activist whose influence introduced him to creative and worldly pursuits from a young age, including art, music, literature, and a sense of . His father, Harold Droga, was an Australian businessman of Jewish heritage who managed operations at the local ski resort and instilled a drive for ambition and achievement in his children. The couple's contrasting values—his mother's emphasis on saving the world through creativity and , and his father's focus on worldly success—shaped a dynamic household environment. Raised in the remote ski resort town of Perisher Valley within the , Droga spent his childhood exploring the outdoors, riding motorbikes with his siblings, and engaging in imaginative play amid the isolation, which was about 45 minutes from the nearest store. The large family dynamic, marked by competition and collaboration among the siblings, fostered his confidence, resourcefulness, and early creative tendencies. As a boy, Droga aspired to become a instructor, envisioning a life traveling the world on the slopes.

Education

David Droga attended primary school at Tudor House Preparatory School in , , from 1978 to 1980, before completing his secondary education at The King's School, an independent Anglican boarding school in , , from 1981 to 1986. During his time at The King's School, Droga developed an early interest in writing, influenced by his extensive reading of comic books, novels, and scripts as a teenager, which sparked aspirations to pursue creative . In his final year of high school, Droga undertook a short at an , where he first encountered the role of a copywriter through an that highlighted its blend of creativity and professional opportunity. This experience, combined with school activities that nurtured his imaginative skills, directed his focus toward as a path emphasizing writing and . Droga did not pursue a degree, opting instead to enter the industry directly through specialized training. At age 18, he completed the Australian Writers and Art Directors School (now known as AWARD School), earning top student honors that launched his professional journey.

Career

Early career

David Droga began his advertising career in 1987 after winning top honors at the Australian Writers and Art Directors School (AWARD School), which provided him with foundational training as a copywriter and facilitated his entry into the industry. This achievement at age 19 enabled a swift transition to professional roles in , where he honed his creative skills during a formative period spanning nearly a decade. Following his AWARD School success, Droga secured a position as a junior copywriter at in , though his tenure there was brief, lasting only about two months. He soon moved to the emerging agency , a startup in , where he rapidly advanced to become a partner and by age 22. At , Droga contributed to the agency's growth, leading creative efforts that established it as one of Australia's leading shops during the early 1990s. Under Droga's creative leadership at from around 1988 to 1996, the agency achieved significant recognition, including two Agency of the Year awards and multiple Ad of the Year honors. A pivotal early accomplishment was the 1990 campaign for 2MMM radio, which won Australia's Commercial of the Year and a at , highlighting Droga's innovative approach to . These successes solidified his reputation for bold, effective creativity within the industry before his international opportunities arose in 1996.

Time at Saatchi & Saatchi

In 1996, David Droga joined as Executive of the office and Regional for , marking his transition to international leadership roles. Under his direction, the emphasized bold, innovative strategies that revitalized its presence in the region, transforming the outpost into a creative hub known for pushing boundaries in client work. This period saw named International Agency of the Year by Advertising Age in 1998, highlighting Droga's focus on high-impact campaigns that drove regional expansion and awards recognition. Promoted in 1999 to Executive of at age 31, Droga brought his experience in to one of the world's most prestigious centers, overseeing creative output for global brands. His tenure there was defined by daring strategies that challenged traditional norms, fostering and elevating the agency's reputation. A representative example is the 1999 British recruitment campaign "," which used stark, realistic depictions of challenges to engage potential recruits through compelling , contributing to the agency's innovative edge. By 2002, these efforts culminated in being named Global Agency of the Year at the , as well as Agency of the Year by Advertising Age and , with Droga personally recognized as the World's Top by Advertising Age. In December 2002, following Publicis Groupe's acquisition of in 2000, Droga was appointed Worldwide Creative Director of Publicis Worldwide, a key network within the . By 2003, his role expanded to Worldwide of the broader Publicis Groupe, where he aimed to instill a unified creative vision across global offices, prioritizing bold ideas to support the network's international growth. During his time at from 1996 to 2003, Droga's leadership not only accelerated the agency's expansion into emerging markets but also set a standard for risk-taking creativity that influenced subsequent global practices.

Founding Droga5

David Droga founded the advertising agency in in 2006, shortly after departing his role as global chief creative officer at Worldwide. Under Droga's leadership as creative chairman, the agency rapidly expanded its global footprint, opening an office in in 2013 to serve as a European hub and later establishing locations in in 2021, in 2022, and in 2022 through the integration of Rothco. A key milestone came in 2013 when William Morris Endeavor (WME) acquired a 49% minority stake in , valuing the agency at approximately $230 million and providing resources for further growth while allowing Droga to retain creative control. In 2019, Interactive acquired the remaining stake for about $475 million, marking the end of Droga5's independent era and integrating it into a larger network while preserving its creative ethos. Droga5 built its reputation during the 2006–2019 period through innovative, culturally resonant campaigns that leveraged digital platforms, , and social causes to transcend traditional . Early examples include the 2006 Ecko "Still Free" , which used to simulate on and generated millions of viral views, demonstrating Droga5's pioneering approach to guerrilla-style digital disruption. The agency's 2008 "The Great Schlep" for the Jewish Council for Education and Research humorously encouraged young Jewish voters to visit elderly relatives to discuss support for , achieving 342 million impressions and over 25,000 sign-ups through shareable, purpose-driven content. Other landmark efforts included the 2010 and "Decoded" scavenger hunt, which turned the rapper's autobiography into an interactive nationwide search boosting traffic by 11%, and the 2017 Times "The Truth Is Hard" campaign, featuring an Oscars spot that addressed media challenges amid political scrutiny and won multiple awards for its bold storytelling. These campaigns exemplified Droga5's emphasis on emotional engagement, technological integration, and measurable cultural impact, earning the agency over 25 "Agency of the Year" honors and recognition as and Adweek's Agency of the Decade for 2010–2019.

Role at Accenture Song

In 2019, Interactive acquired , the agency founded by David Droga, recognizing its reputation for innovative creative work as a foundation for enhancing 's marketing capabilities. Following the acquisition, Droga played a pivotal role in integrating into Interactive's broader structure, leveraging the agency's expertise to bridge creative strategy with consulting services. In 2021, Droga was appointed CEO of Song—then still known as Accenture Interactive—and Creative Chairman, tasked with leading the division's evolution into a unified creative powerhouse. Under his leadership, the division underwent a significant rebranding in April 2022, renaming Accenture Interactive to Song to emphasize a holistic approach combining , , , AI, strategy, and data. Droga unified over 40 prior acquisitions and internal groups into this new entity, introducing an operating model that positioned Song as the world's largest tech-powered creative company focused on strategic expansions in creative consulting within 's global framework. This integration drove substantial growth, with Song's revenue increasing from $12.5 billion in 2021 to $19 billion by August 2024. On May 28, 2025, Accenture announced that Droga would step down as CEO of Accenture Song effective August 31, 2025, after 37 years in the advertising industry, transitioning to the role of Accenture Vice Chair to provide strategic advisory support and deepen client engagements. In this new capacity, Droga plans to focus on selective contributions, emphasizing time for "thinking and daydreaming" while catching his breath after decades of intense leadership. Ndidi Oteh, previously global lead for Brand and Communications, was named as his successor to continue advancing Accenture Song's mission.

Awards and recognition

Key awards

David Droga was named the World's Top by Age in 2002, recognizing his exceptional contributions to creative advertising during his tenure at . Early in his career at in the , Droga contributed to campaigns that secured his first Lion at age 19, marking the beginning of his prolific award-winning record at the festival. During this period, also earned Australian Agency of the Year twice and Australian Ad of the Year four times under his creative leadership. Throughout his career, Droga has been associated with campaigns that have won multiple , D&AD Pencils, and One Show Pencils across various agencies, including notable entries for brands like and . At , which he co-founded in 2006, the agency achieved multiple at the Lions International Festival of Creativity during his tenure, including the 2012 for Good for the "Help, I Want to Save a Life" marrow donor campaign and two in 2019 for ' "The Truth Is Worth It" series in and Film Craft categories.

Inductions and honors

David Droga was inducted into the Art Directors Club (ADC) Hall of Fame in 2012, becoming the youngest person ever to receive this honor at the age of 44. This induction recognized his transformative contributions to creative advertising, including leading agencies to multiple Agency of the Year titles and amassing over 70 Lions awards. In 2017, Droga received the Lion of St. Mark, the Cannes Lions lifetime achievement award, becoming the youngest recipient at age 49. Droga has been widely recognized as a creative luminary in leading industry publications. Advertising Age named him the World's Best during his tenure at , highlighting his innovative approach to global campaigns. has similarly profiled him as a pivotal figure in advertising's evolution, crediting his leadership at and Song with redefining creative business models. Among his other honors, Droga has served as a keynote speaker at major industry events, including the Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2025, where he discussed audacity, empathy, and the future of advertising. He was also featured as a guest on the "Masters of Scale" in 2023, hosted by , where he shared insights on scaling creative excellence and making lateral career moves in business. Droga's influence on the industry's evolution was prominently noted in tributes following his 2025 stepping down as CEO of Accenture Song. Publications such as and lauded his career for bridging and corporate , emphasizing how his work at set a blueprint for modern agencies amid digital disruption.

Personal life

Family

David Droga is married to Marisa Droga, a whom he met in in his early twenties. The couple relocated from to the in the early 2000s, settling in , , where they have raised their four children. Their children—two sons, and , and two daughters, Blaise and —have largely been kept out of the public eye, reflecting the 's commitment to privacy amid Droga's high-profile career in . While Droga occasionally shares glimpses of family life, such as encouraging creativity and daydreaming among his children, detailed personal information remains limited to protect their well-being.

Other activities

David Droga serves as a on the board of trustees of the of in , where he contributes to the institution's mission of advancing . Droga co-founded the Droga Family Foundation in 2017 with his brother Daniel, which provides scholarships for and supports initiatives. Following his transition from the CEO role at Song in September 2025 to a broader strategic position as vice chair of , Droga has expressed enthusiasm for dedicating more time to reflective pursuits, including thinking and daydreaming, as extensions of his creative mindset beyond professional advertising. His residence in with his family provides a base for these local engagements in the city's cultural scene. Droga has long voiced admiration for individuals prioritizing social and environmental causes over personal gain, identifying the environment and art as among his favorite topics outside of work and family. These interests align with his family's roots and his heritage, though specific involvements remain personal. In public forums, Droga has shared insights from his career through speaking engagements and media appearances, including a 2025 YouTube discussion titled "My greatest lessons from 37 years in ," where he reflected on key experiences and advice for emerging creatives.

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