Australian advertising industry mourns Droga5 global CEO Mark Green

Mark Green, the Australian advertising executive who co-founded The Monkeys and went on to become global CEO of Droga5, has died suddenly in New York aged 53.

Green died on Saturday following a heart attack, according to reports confirmed by Accenture, which described his passing as sudden and unexpected.

He had relocated to New York with his wife and two children in 2024 to lead Droga5's global operations, following nearly two decades building one of Australia's most successful independent creative agencies.

Green founded The Monkeys in 2006 alongside Justin Drape and Scott Nowell. The agency became one of the country's most recognised creative businesses before its acquisition by Accenture in 2017.

He subsequently took on broader leadership responsibilities within Accenture's advertising and marketing operations, becoming head of Accenture Interactive in Australia and New Zealand in 2019, before leading Accenture Song across the region.

In 2024, Green was appointed global CEO of Droga5, overseeing the agency's international operations as The Monkeys was brought under the Droga5 brand.

His career also included a substantial contribution to the wider Australian advertising industry, including six years as chair of Advertising Council Australia (ACA).

In a statement on Monday, ACA said Green, affectionately known throughout the industry as “Greenie”, had helped modernise and unite the organisation while mentoring countless advertising professionals.

ACA chair Michael Rebelo, who had known Green since their early careers at Saatchi & Saatchi, said his death was difficult to comprehend.

“The loss of Mark is incredibly hard to comprehend. We grew up in this industry together, from our early days as suits at Saatchi & Saatchi, and I feel very lucky to have called Greenie a dear friend,” Rebelo said.

“He was an exceptional leader, with strong business instincts and real creative bravery, who backed great ideas with absolute conviction and inspired those around him to go for it.”

Rebelo said Green's willingness to bring competing agencies together for the benefit of the industry was among his defining qualities.

“He gave so much to our industry, but what I'll remember most is his passion for creativity and his remarkable ability to bring people together, even rallying competing agencies for the greater good,” he said.

ACA CEO Tony Hale described Green as a friend, mentor and transformative leader.

“Mark was the quintessential new age ad man. Sharp, witty, entrepreneurial, and always with a wry smile and glint in his eye as he orchestrated the next deal,” Hale said.

“A rare leader, he was fiercely ambitious for creative excellence, entirely devoid of cynicism, and relentlessly committed to the industry that he loved.”

Under Green's leadership, The Monkeys developed a reputation for ambitious creative work, with campaigns for some of Australia's biggest brands and major international recognition.

The agency's achievements included the Cannes Lions Titanium Grand Prix in 2023 for The First Digital Nations, created for the Government of Tuvalu, and the Film Grand Prix in 2024 for Play It Safe, celebrating the Sydney Opera House's 50th anniversary.

His appointment to lead Droga5 globally in 2024 marked a significant milestone for an Australian advertising executive, taking him from the agency he helped establish in Sydney to the leadership of one of the world's best-known creative networks.

Reflecting on his time at The Monkeys when the appointment was announced, Green described the experience of building the agency with Drape, Nowell and their colleagues as a privilege.

“What a ride and privilege it has been to start The Monkeys with Scott Nowell and Justin Drape. And then build something with so many talented people,” he wrote at the time.

Hale said Green's influence extended well beyond his commercial achievements.

“He led with clarity, genuinely cared for people, and his generosity was boundless. His influence went far beyond his commercial success; he made a lasting difference to our business culture and the people in it.”

Green is survived by his wife Rachel and their children, Ari and Gisele.