Hugh Gurney and Joe Sibley Become co-ECDs at Droga5,  Dave Collins Promoted to Head of Strategy

Hugh Gurney and Joe Sibley have been promoted to co-executive creative directors at Droga5 Melbourne, while Dave Collins, previously strategy director, has been elevated to head of strategy. 

Hugh and Joe will work with CSO Milla McPhee and CEO Matt Michael and report to CCO Tara Ford.

“Hugh and Joe are tremendous creatives and wonderful leaders of talent, who we’re sure will continue to help create world class work from Droga5 in Melbourne,” said Tara, chief creative officer of Droga5 Australia and Accenture Song APAC. 

Matt, who was promoted to CEO after Mark Green relocated to New York to become Droga’s global boss, added that Hugh and Joe were the agency’s first creative team in Melbourne.

“We’ve had the chance to see them grow, so it’s a pleasure to have them take roles as executive creative director I Melbourne as we transition into the future as Droga5.”

Hugh and Joe have collectively spent over 10 years working for The Monkeys. During that time they have been awarded at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Spikes, Clio, New York Festivals, AWARD, and MADC.

  

Dave has worked for The Monkey’s for over four years, following stints at Interesting Development in New York, and CHEP Network. 

He said of his new role on Linkedin, “In medium-sized news, I’m now the head of strategy of Droga5 Melbourne. In smaller news, Savoy biscuits have been added to the Droga5 snacks roster.”

The trio’s promotions go some way to filling the gap left by CCO Ant Keogh and CSO Michael Derepas, who have left with CEO Paul McMillan to launch their own agency, as LBB revealed in October.

The Monkeys became Droga5 at the start of this month, with Matt telling LBB, “We’ve always had an outlook that once in a lifetime is now.

“That optimistic mindset that Mark always carried so well is as truly felt now in our business as it has ever been, and we firmly believe the best work is ahead of us.”