The Cannes Lions last night presented Aussie expat David Droga, founder & creative chairman of Droga5, with the Lion of St. Mark Award, arguably the highest honour in world creative advertising.
New York-based Droga is one of the most awarded creatives at Cannes Lions, and is the youngest recipient of the Lion of St. Mark. He won his first Lion aged 19 at Sydney hotshop Omon and has achieved more than 70 Gold and 15 Grand Prix / Titanium Lions in his career to date.
“The Lion of St. Mark recognises an individual who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to creativity in our industry,” said Jose Papa, managing director of Cannes Lions. “His drive, passion and unbounded creative skill has led him to deliver continual award-winning results. He’s set the global standard.”
Says Droga: “I have worked with more talented people and had more opportunities than one creative person deserves. The Lion of St. Mark honour is beyond my wildest ambitions. It’s incredible to be recognised with this, when you still feel you have so much more to do and prove. But I will soak it up with pride and humility.”
At 22, David Droga became a partner and ECD of Omon Sydney (which won Campaign Brief Agency of the Year in 1989 and 1993). In 1996 he moved to Singapore to become ECD of Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore and regional CD of Saatchi Asia. At 29, Droga was promoted to ECD of Saatchi London, and under his charge, they were awarded, for the first time, Agency of the Year at Cannes 2002.
In 2003 Droga became the first-ever worldwide chief creative officer of the Publicis Network in New York. He founded Droga5 in New York City in 2006, and in 10 years,, Droga5 has become a globally influential agencies.
Previous Lion of St. Mark Winners
- 2016: Marcello Serpa, former partner, AlmapBBDO
- 2015: Bob Greenberg, founder, chairman and ceo, R/GA
- 2014: Joe Pytka, director, PYTKA
- 2013: Lee Clow, hairman, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Director of Media Arts, TBWA\Worldwide
- 2012: Dan Wieden, co-founder and global ECD, Wieden+Kennedy
- 2011: Sir John Hegarty, Worldwide CD, Founder, BBH
- See the Droga Youtube interview below
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