Droga5 Sydney To Close Office As There Was “Little Value” To Continue Local Operation
Droga5 Sydney is set to shut its doors at the end of the year in what David Droga, founder of the global network, describes as a “difficult decision”.
“This was obviously a very difficult decision, both professionally and personally, and as a proud Australian, it was a bitter pill to swallow,” Droga said.
“However, we see little value in continuing to operate in this market with an office that, sadly, no longer consistently represents the Droga5 brand.”
The news follows the departure of the agency’s executive creative director, Steve Coll, who jumped ship to be a creative partner at agency WiTH Collective.
Former editor of Marketing Week in London, Steven Forster, said the agency’s closure sounds like “a lack of TLC”, describing the closure of the Sydney office as a “big blow” for the network.
“Now Droga has announced it’s closing its Sydney office – Droga is an Aussie – which it blames on self-inflicted mistakes, bad luck and an irrational Oz ad market,” he writes for the More About Advertising blog.
“At one point Droga’s Sydney office was reported to employ hundreds of people. Sounds like a lack of TLC to me.”
The full release from Droga5 in New York is below.
NEW YORK, NY – September 9, 2015 – Advertising agency Droga5, which is headquartered in New York, announced today that it would be closing its Sydney office. Although the Sydney office enjoyed an exceptionally strong start, it struggled to maintain that momentum.
“This was obviously a very difficult decision, both professionally and personally, and as a proud Australian, it was a bitter pill to swallow,” said David Droga, creative chairman and founder of Droga5.
“However, we see little value in continuing to operate in this market with an office that, sadly, no longer consistently represents the Droga5 brand. Despite world-class local management and many talented individuals working hard, the Sydney office has floundered over the past few years. Some of it was self-inflicted, some of it bad luck and some of it just the befuddling local advertising market. Regardless, we aren’t a company that measures its success by the number of its offices, but rather by the creative output, positive influence and culture of each office.”
The Sydney office will officially close its doors before the end of the year.
This year, Droga5 New York enjoyed its ninth consecutive year of over-40-percent growth and was recently named the North American Effies’ Independent Agency of the Year, One Show Global Agency of the Year and Cannes Lions Independent Agency of the Year.
“We continue to realize strong growth in the U.S., and are focusing on creating a world-class leadership team in Europe while simultaneously exploring potential models of offerings in China as our two key priorities outside the U.S.,” commented Sarah Thompson, Droga5’s Global CEO.
Droga5 recently announced the hire of a new CEO, Bill Scott, for its London office. Scott joins from Grey London. Additional key creative hires are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Image David Nobay and Sudeep Gohill, creative chairman and CEO of Droga5 Sydney
Latest News
An Educated Guess: Three Ways Hypothesis-Based Marketing Can Work For You
Look, it's top tips to mastering hypothesis-based marketing that mercifully doesn't require revisiting Year 12 maths.
Webprofits To Aggressively Drive Airtasker’s UK Growth Plan
Airtasker has chosen leading independent digital growth consultancy, Webprofits as a strategic partner to help them expand to new markets. Following a successful IPO in early 2021, Airtasker set its sights on the next strategic objective — expansion and growth in the UK market. After careful review, they partnered with the growth marketing specialists at […]
Print Readership Has Halved Since 2016
New data has revealed the number of people reading news in print has halved over the past five years. The University of Canberra released the latest Digital News Report: Australia this week, which suggests an overall loss of interest in news media amongst Australians. While the pandemic last year brought with it a resurgence in news […]
The Australian Olympic Committee Urges Aussies ‘To Have A Go’ Via M&C Saatchi
This ad urges us to get into the Olympic spirit sans lighting a large cauldron & throwing javelins at the neighbours.
Nazeem Hussain Mistaken For Waleed Aly In TV Listing Fail
A pall of racism has fallen over the TV listings guide. In even bigger shock, people still reading TV listings guide.
Coke’s Customisable Pride Bottle Won’t Let You Add The Word ‘Lesbian’, But Will Let You Put ‘C*ck S*ckers’
Always wanted to send your mum a bottle of Coke with the Pride flag & c@cksuker on the label? Light up mum's day here.
First Group Of Judges Revealed For B&T’s Best Of The Best Awards
With on-time entries to B&T’s inaugural Best of the Best awards closing THIS FRIDAY, we thought we’d start sharing which industry luminaries will be judging all the submissions. Presented by Finecast, Best of the Best will bring something unique to this year’s awards season. While most awards focus on the work of an agency or […]
Tuesday TV Wrap: Home And Away Tops Entertainment But Ninja Warriors Beats MasterChef And Big Brother
Much like alcohol and a daily dose of Metamucil, Home And Away is just the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it?
TV Reporter’s Vox Pop Ruined By Man Repeatedly Throwing Up
Emetophobia is a fear of vomit. So, if you're emetophobic you best avoid this. If not, you've learned a new word.
CouriersPlease Study Finds That Aussies Don’t Want Small Businesses To Shut During Lockdowns
Study finds Aussies don't want small businesses closed during lockdowns. B&T concurs with pubs, TABs and kebab shops.
Aussie Cannes Young Lions Team Win Gold In Cannes Lions Live Media Competition
Nolan Yu and Max Learmont had been awarded Gold at Cannes Young Lions Live. Yu, senior account manager at OMD and Learmont, senior strategist at Speed, were awarded for their ‘Wake Up To A Better World’ campaign. Placing Silver was Japan, and Bronze was Portugal, while the shortlist also included Norway, Columbia and the UK. […]
Melinda Geertz Steps Down As Leo Burnett CEO, Emma Montgomery To Take Reins
After three decades, Melinda Geertz has stepped down as Leo Burnett CEO.
Saatchi & Saatchi’s Donation Dollar Continues To Make Waves At Cannes Lions Live While More Aussie Agencies Secure Success
Cannes Lions has announced the winners in the second Awards Show of the week during Cannes Lions Live, which runs until June 25th. On day two, winners were celebrated in the Social & Influencer Lions, Media Lions, PR Lions, Direct Lions, Creative Strategy Lions and Creative Data Lions – all within the Reach Track, in […]
Cresta’s Awards See Upturn As Ad Spend Starts To Return
Cresta Awards has announced that despite having a few more weeks before entries close, this year’s Cresta Awards has surpassed its entries for the whole 2019 Season. Cresta sees this as evidence, not just of evolution in its own awards but of a wider measure of industry confidence and resilience in many markets. The awards […]
Ashley Madison Shifts From Shock To Female Empowerment
Ashley Madison, the online dating site for married people famous for its shock advertising, is toning down the message, instead creating content aimed at empowering women with the message it’s fine to have an affair. Recently, B&T interviewed GroupM’s chief technology and transformation officer, Ryan Menezes. When asked what was the best brand he’d never […]
72andSunny APAC CEO Chris Kay Named Saatchi & Saatchi UK CEO
Saatchi & Saatchi UK has announced Chris Kay as its new CEO of the agency as Sam Hawkey leaves. Kay joins from 72andSunny where, for the past three and a half years, he was CEO for Asia Pacific and a global partner. Prior to moving to Australia to set up the APAC region’s Sydney and […]
Facebook Announces Plans For World’s Largest Shoppable Social Media Platform
Gerry Harvey meanwhile has sworn to build his own social network in retaliation to Facebook stepping on his turf.
Clems Melbourne Snares Charlotte Stevens To Head Myer Business
Charlotte Stevens to head Clems' Myer account. Apparently that's a department store & not a chalice filled with poison.
Microsoft Reaches $US2 Trillion Value As Apple Eyes $US3 Trillion
Do you ever regret not studying computer science at uni? Probably not... but perhaps you should.
Facebook’s VR Ad Play Hits A Snag
VR still hasn't truly taken off yet and we blame that awful Ready Player One film.
Reports: Google Draws The Ire Of EU (Again)
B&T's editor takes great pleasure in an opportunity to use 'ire' in a headline, despite having no idea what it means.
PubMatic Secures Data Partnership With HYP Technology
Think of data partnership news as being similar to celebrity hook-ups, just without weird combined names like Bennifer.
Publishers Cash In On EOFY Sales
Where are these same sales when you have to buy gifts for loved ones during Xmas, we ask?
Flybuys & The Trade Desk Help Connect Online & Offline Sales With New Partnership
Connecting online and offline data can now be as easy as serving a Woolies roast chook for dinner with this new deal.
Household Targeting’s Role In The Cookieless Future
Are you braced for a cookieless future? Thankfully it doesn't require hoarding loo rolls or building a fallout shelter.
Cartelux Extends Agreement With MINI
This should come as good news for all 'Small Car Only' car spots in shopping centres.
“Bots Are Programmed To Sell, Not Care!” AI & Algorithms Roasted In Creepy Robot Ad For US Travel Brand
If The Terminator taught us anything, it's not to start a fight with the robots.
Highsnobiety Partners With Citizens Of Culture To Help Lead Its Media Partnerships In Australia
Culture-leading publisher Highsnobiety continues to evolve its local operations with the appointment of Citizens of Culture as its strategic partner across media operations within Australia. Highsnobiety is a premium global brand dedicated to cultural pioneers, with work spanning across digital platforms, print media, documentaries, cutting edge events, a shopping platform and a full service creative […]
Investigation Reveals That Amazon Destroys Thousands Of Dollars Of Unsold Stock, Including Laptops, TVs And Face Masks
This investigation may seem hard-hitting, but just wait till we tell you what Bakers Delight does with its finger buns.
Mega Sports Blunder Wrap! Testicles, Streakers, IKEA’s Ronaldo Stunt & What’s Under A Scotsman’s Kilt
B&T's condensed a week of sports disasters into this handy read. Stranger still, it's sans any NRL players whatsoever.
