AUCKLAND, Today: Droga5 is refreshing its creative leadership, with Barbara Humphries and Damon Stapleton stepping in as Co-Chief Creative Officers across Australia and New Zealand.
They’ll work alongside Droga5 ANZ CEO Matt Michael, bringing their combined firepower to drive the agency’s next chapter. Tara Ford, previously CCO of Droga5 Australia, now takes the reins at Droga5 London, stepping into a major creative leadership role in the UK.
Matt Michael, CEO of Droga5 ANZ says, “I’m excited for Tara and looking forward to seeing her make the incredible kind of impact she has made in Australia in another part of our global network.
“Her move to head up London further underscores the incredible regional and global opportunities available to our creative talent. Having worked closely with Barb and Damon over the years, I’m thrilled to see these two heavyweights unite, strengthening our creative firepower for clients across the region.
“This move reinforces our commitment to borderless creativity, driving transformative impact for our client’s businesses, brands, and reputations in a way that continues to lead the world.
“With the creative calibre of Damon and Barb leading the charge, the next phase of Droga5 ANZ is set to be truly exciting.”
“I’m excited for Tara and looking forward to seeing her make the incredible kind of impact she has made in Australia in another part of our global network.” – Matt Michael
Tara Ford, now CCO of Droga5 London says, “I’ve had an amazing time at The Monkeys, now Droga5 ANZ, working with some exceptional talent but the opportunity to take on my next big challenge of Droga5 London was just too alluring.
“Droga5 ANZ is in great hands with Barb and Damon at the helm and I have no doubt the agency will flourish under their leadership.” This new setup is part of a broader global restructure, positioning the agency for long-term growth under Droga5 Global CEO Mark Green.
Ford’s leadership saw Droga5 ANZ win globally across Cannes, D&AD and One Show, while also earning multiple Agency of the Year titles. She was ranked #1 CCO in APAC by One Show, and Creative Leader of the Year by both AWARD and Campaign Asia.
Humphries, who steps into her new role from Executive Creative Director, helped shape major award-winning campaigns like ‘The First Digital Nation’ and ‘Play It Safe’.
Barbara Humphries, Co-CCO of Droga5 ANZ says, “I’m really proud of the recent momentum as part of The Monkeys, Song and now Droga5, and learning from a creative force like Tara over the past few years has been invaluable.
“Now, with the opportunity to bring together more of our talented people across three offices, partnering with the brilliant Damon Stapleton and long-time collaborator Matt, I’m super excited about the opportunities ahead of us.”
“I’ve had an amazing time at The Monkeys, now Droga5 ANZ, working with some exceptional talent but the opportunity to take on my next big challenge of Droga5 London was just too alluring.” – Tara Ford
Recently ranked #1 ECD in APAC by One Show, Humphries has worked across global brands including Nike, UN Women, Qantas and NRMA Insurance. Stapleton brings over 20 years of experience and has led work for ASB, Mazda, Meridian Energy, No Ugly, and Kidscan.
Damon Stapleton, now Co-CCO says, “Droga5 has always been a bastion of world-class creativity, and it makes me proud to be able to work with all the great and talented people of Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne to add to Droga5’s story.
“Having the larger playing field of Australia and New Zealand with so many more Lego pieces to push creativity forward is always going to be fun.“On top of that, I get to partner with somebody as massively talented as Barb which makes that journey even more special. I look forward to great ideas and making great stuff.”
His global recognition includes more than 500 international awards—among them two D&AD Black Pencils, 70 Cannes Lions, 11 One Show Golds, and eight Grand Prix at Spikes Asia.
2025 signals a new creative chapter for Droga5, following years of growth, new global offices, and major campaign success. The year’s already off to a fast, exciting start.
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