Mark Green, the global CEO of Droga5 and co-founder of legendary Australian creative agency The Monkeys, has died suddenly from a heart attack in New York City at the age of 53, leaving behind an indelible mark on the advertising industry.
From Sydney to New York: The Rise of an Advertising Leader
Affectionately known across the industry as Greenie
, Mark Green built a towering career that spanned more than two decades. He co-founded The Monkeys alongside Justin Drape and Scott Nowell in 2006. Under his leadership, the independent agency grew into one of Australia’s most prominent creative shops before Accenture acquired it in 2017.
Green remained chief executive following the acquisition and later served as president of Accenture Song Australia and New Zealand. His career took an international turn in 2024 when he relocated to New York City with his wife, Rachel, and their children, Ari and Gisele, to assume the role of global CEO of Droga5.
His elevation to the global leadership post coincided with The Monkeys being folded into the Droga5 brand. Ahead of his move to the United States, Green articulated a clear ambition for his new global remit.
Both for reaching high creative standards but also thinking about how creativity influences business more broadly. That would be the combination of things I would think we’re looking to build and make sure that every office that has the name delivers.
Mark Green, Global CEO of Droga5
Industry Tributes Pour In Following Sudden Passing
News of his sudden passing on Saturday brought an outpouring of grief from colleagues, competitors, and industry bodies alike. Accenture described the loss as sudden and unexpected in a statement.
He was a trusted mentor and friend to many, and his loss will be felt deeply by our entire family at Droga5, Accenture and Accenture Song. He will be remembered not only as the visionary that he was, but for his generosity, his humour, and his empathy.
Accenture, Corporate Statement
Beyond his corporate achievements, Green served a six-year tenure as chair of Advertising Council Australia (ACA). The organisation credited him with modernising and uniting the Australian advertising sector. ACA Chair Michael Rebelo shared a personal reflection on their decades-long friendship.
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. 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.
Michael Rebelo, ACA Chair
ACA CEO Tony Hale echoed those sentiments, characterising Green as the quintessential new age ad man
whose influence extended well past commercial ledgers.
Campaigns That Defined an Era
During Green’s leadership tenure at The Monkeys and Accenture Song, the agency delivered recognisable and awarded commercial work. Notable campaigns included the Cannes Lion-winning Play It Safe
production for the Sydney Opera House.
Other celebrated projects under his watch included the Government of Tuvalu’s First Digital Nation
initiative. Under his leadership at Droga5, the agency scaled into a full global network and earned Ad Age A-List Network of the Year recognition for the first time in its history. Green returned to Australia in 2025 to accept an induction into the AdNews Advertising Hall of Fame.
Ensuring Agency Continuity in New York
Accenture confirmed that Droga5’s leadership team is actively managing operations to ensure continuity for employees and clients. Further details regarding how the company and the wider advertising community will honour Green and his legacy are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
