Droga5 Sydney lures renowned marketing exec Jon Bradshaw for chief strategy officer role

Coinciding with the departure Justin Graham to M&C Saatchi, Droga5 Sydney has lured one of Australia’s most respected marketing executives to the agency as part of its growing commitment to leadership-driven marketing. Jon Bradshaw (left), former marketing leader with Diageo, Lion and Virgin Mobile, joins the agency early next year as chief strategy officer.

The appointment is a major coup for the agency, luring one of the country’s most successful marketing directors across to further build on the business which works with some of Australia’s most iconic brands including Woolworths, Qantas, Telstra, Cadbury and Kraft.

Bradshaw has been at the helm of some of Australia’s most successful brands as Brands Director at Lion, Marketing Director at Virgin Mobile Australia and Vice President of Global Marketing and Commercial Director of drinks giant Diageo.

He said the decision to come and work on the agency side for the first time as driven by Droga5’s approach to changing the way in which ad agencies worked with client partners at the most senior levels.

The awarding winning marketer, who won a gold lion in Cannes with Droga5 when working together at Virgin Mobile, said the conversation clients were having with agencies was shifting and they were seeking more leadership and strategic thinking from agencies at the highest level.

“I am really excited about coming across,” Bradshaw said. “People ask why a client would want to join an agency? For me it’s easy when that agency is Droga5. It’s an opportunity to be part of a business that’s helping shape the future of marketing and advertising and changing the conversation with the client.”

“The industry is shifting and I have a strong idea of what things look like from the client perspective.”

The appointment of Bradshaw to the executive team is the first major hire by the agency since its headline grabbing partnership with Hollywood talent agency William Morris Endeavor earlier this year.

Droga5 chief executive Sudeep Gohil said Bradshaw’s decision to join an agency for the first time after being a leader on the client side was a reflection of the position of Droga5 and the changing conversations the agency was having with its client partners.

“He has been an inspiring leader and has remarkable track record of success in Australia and overseas,” Gohil said.

“As the conversations we have with clients continue to develop at the most senior executive levels Jon’s experience will be an incredible asset.”

Gohil also thanked Justin Graham, Droga5’s current chief strategy officer, who is leaving to take on a group role with M&C Saatchi.