'Oddly poetic': The Monkeys' name laid to rest

By Makayla Muscat | 2 December 2024
 
Justin Drape

The Monkeys has officially become part of Droga5. 

Justin Drape, Mark Green and Scott Nowell co-founded the Australian creative shop in 2006, which was reportedly sold to Accenture for $63 million in 2017.

David Droga, CEO of Accenture Song, who was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2013, said Droga5’s mission has always been to deliver creativity rooted in strategy and purpose, that is humanity-obsessed. 

Drape said the rebrand feels “oddly poetic”, even though it means the disappearance of The Monkeys’ name. 

“The Monkeys began as an ideal; with the goal of creating provocative ideas and stories that become a part of pop culture,” he told AdNews

“I’m immensely proud of what we achieved together, and grateful to every person who contributed to The Monkeys’ success.

“It's phenomenal what David has created with Droga 5 New York. He's set a creative standard that we’ve always admired. 

“So if The Monkeys brand and culture is to be subsumed into another entity, the shared values and synergies with Droga5 are obvious… In many ways, it’s oddly poetic.”

The Monkeys’ offices in Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney formally became Droga5, also part of Accenture Song, on Sunday. 

Earlier this year, Green moved to New York to be the global CEO of Droga5, coinciding with the formal end of The Monkeys. 

"This is a big moment and a very exciting opportunity for the team," said Mark Green, The Monkeys co-founder and now Droga5 CEO.

"We have always wanted to make sure that our people feel like they can make the best work of their careers at The Monkeys.

"And this has been the case for many years. Now with the transition to Droga5 they can alsohave the confidence that their best work is also ahead of them."

Bronwyn van der Merwe has been promoted to Accenture Song lead for Australia and New Zealand, and Matt Michael to Droga5 CEO.

The Monkeys has picked up Grand Prix awards at the Cannes Lion Advertising Festival for the last two years in a row. 

It won the Film Grand Prix for Play It Safe, celebrating 50 years of the iconic Sydney Opera House and in 2023 took home the Titanium Grand Prix for The First Digital Nations for the Government of Tuvalu.

The creative agency has also worked with a myriad of high-profile clients, including Qantas, Tourism\ Australia, Foxtel, Airbnb, IKEA, Meat & Livestock Australia and Telstra.

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