Aussies and Kiwis plus global creatives attend the Campaign Brief Cannes Welcome Drinks honoring special guest ‘King David’ Droga
The Aussie and Kiwi contingent, including expat creative directors from around the world, plus a few global CCOs, honoured special guest ‘King David’ Droga at the annual Campaign Brief Cannes Welcome Drinks last night at the Mondrian Cannes. Over 170 joined in the fun that kick started their Cannes week.
Australia’s Terry Savage, Chairman of The Marketing Academy, Chairman of LIA and the former chairman of Cannes Lions, gave a short speech and proposed a toast to Droga, as well as wishing a very happy birthday to David’s wife Marisa. Droga replied with a thank you to all the Australians and Kiwis who have helped him achieve his global success.
(As previously reported, Droga has chosen to step down from day-to-day leadership of Accenture Song at the end of the fiscal year and take on a broader strategic role across all of Accenture as vice chair.)
Special attendees included global CCOs Chris Beresford-Hill (BBDO), Rémi Babinet and Stéphane Xibérras (BETC, Paris), Nick Law (Accenture Song, New York), Brent Anderson (TBWAMedia Arts Lab, LA) and Aussie expat Justine Armour (Forsman & Bodenfors). Plus global chief Mark Green (Droga5, New York).
Several global award show execs were also in attendance including Dara Lynch and Donal Keenan from D&AD, Barbara Levy and Laurissa Levy from LIA, and Joe Brooks from Gerety Awards. As well as Tony Hale, CEO of Advertising Council Australia, Australia’s Cannes Lions representative.
Prominent expat CCOs who attended included Tara Ford (Droga5, London), Samira Ansari (Ogilvy, New York), John McKelvey (Mirimar, LA), Kirsten Rutherford (TBWAChiatDay, LA), Jo Shoesmith (Amazon, LA), Gen Hoey (The Lego Group, Amsterdam), Tim Pashen (Worth Your While, Denmark), Jen Speirs (Droga5, Dublin), Sam Rowlands (Le Pub, Amsterdam). Plus CEOs Luke McKelvey (Mirimar, LA) and Nic Taylor (The Lego Group, Amsterdam).
A heartfelt thanks to all who joined CB to toast Australia’s greatest creative legend.
For those unaware, the “King David” reference is to a 1998 Campaign Brief Asia story on David Droga as he kickstarted his international career, aged 27, in Singapore.
