The Monkeys’ co-founder Justin Drape departs for new adventure – to be revealed in due course
Co-founder and group chief creative officer Justin Drape is leaving The Monkeys, the company he co-founded in 2006 with Mark Green and Scott Nowell.
Since its inception as the Three Drunk Monkeys 15 years ago, Drape has been instrumental in growing the agency from the three founders to more than 150 people with offices based in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Monkeys, part of Accenture Interactive, has become a cultural creative force by creating critically acclaimed TV shows, charting songs, books, technology and ideas that have won awards and recognition at major award shows, including D&AD, Cannes, Clio, Webbys, AWARD, AACTA Awards, Logies & EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Drape’s other credits include working as a writer and executive producer on SBS TV series, My Family Feast, and comedy drama :30 Seconds where he teamed up with Andrew Denton’s production company, Zapruder’s Other Films.
On his departure from the agency, Drape says: “What has always made The Monkeys special, is the talented people who committed to shaping the agency’s culture, brand and story. The talented people who continually turn up and challenge the status quo with their creativity, intelligence and relentless belief in making provocative ideas happen. I want to thank all of them.”
The founders remain close, says Mark Green, co-founder and group CEO of The Monkeys and Accenture Interactive ANZ lead: “We’ve been told more than once that to grow a business like ours you are going to experience great highs and lows and to get out the other side as friends is some kind of miracle. Yet here we are. We have been through so much together both from a business perspective and a personal perspective.”
Having met at AWARD school in 1998, Drape and Nowell have worked together as a creative team for over 20 years.
Says Scott Nowell. co-founder and group chief creative officer, The Monkeys: “We’ve been through so much together it’s hard to know where to start. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and even more so how we’ve done it. Anyone who’s worked with Justin will tell you he’s a force of nature and I’m excited to see what his next chapter brings.”
As for what’s next, Drape’s next endeavours will be revealed in due course.
The Monkeys has been named:
Campaign Brief Agency of the Year x 2
Campaign Asia Agency of the Year x 3
AdNews Creative Agency of the Year
AdNews NSW Agency of the Year x 5
AdNews Agency of the Year x 2
AdNews Independent Agency of the Year x 2
Mumbrella APAC Creative Agency of the Year x 2
Mumbrella Creative Agency of the Year x 2
Mumbrella Full Service Agency of the Year
Mumbrella Independent Agency of the Year
B&T Agency of the Year x 2
B&T Advertising Agency of the Year x 4
B&T NSW Agency of the Year
B&T Independent Agency of the Year x 2
2019 B&T Agency of the Decade.
In 2017 The Monkeys was acquired by Accenture Interactive.
20 Comments
What a career. Great creative. Lovely human.
Not many people get to build something so special and enduring, make a ton of money and leave on their own terms.
Let alone while still in their 40s.
Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Bravo Justin
Always a gentleman and an absolute pleasure to work with. Best of luck mate
Massive news and one of the most talented and down to earth blokes you’ll ever meet.
I’m sure first on the list is a well deserved break after 15 years of killing it.
Congratulations, Justin. Wishing you the same success in the dog salon business.
Well done Juzzy. You are a true legend. Thanks for everything..
I hope those three monkeys are drunk somewhere right now.
Breaking up is hard to do.
Well done fellas on changing the shape of the Australian industry. Our generations Mo & Jo.
Congrats on everything you’ve achieved. What you guys built is an inspiration to all us mere mortals.
I must admit I have long been quietly jealous of how insanely talented, nice and good looking Justin is. Yet I can never think of a bad word to say. Brilliant work and I hope more brilliance is to come.
What a first act and what an awesome example to other entrepreneurs and business builders.
Thanks Justin for the inspiration.
One of the greats. Wishing you all the best.
Compounded with the fact that he is quite possibly one of the loveliest humans I’ve ever worked with, his creative ingenuity knows no bounds, so no doubt his next endeavour will be just as brilliant….
Congratulations Justin!
What a brilliant career. I hope you have an equally amazing adventure Justin!
What an incredible achievement! Wishing you all the very best for whatever’s next Justin.
Look out Todd Sampson.
A tall drink of vision, indomitable spirit and human decency. It was a pleasure.
I started out in Industry at a similar time to these guys. Here’s what’s impressed me most. A bunch of guys getting together to have a crack at their ages it was unheard of. Still unheard of. And to have to creative partners spend 20 years together building a phenomenal agency speaks volumes about their commitment to keeping their egos in check and commitment to each other. I’m sure there were times that tested you all but you stuck together. Nothing but respect for you guys. All of you. Justin, you’ve killed it. Best of luck. But ffs… Take a looooong holiday. Like a year. You f’n deserve it. Go to the Greek Islands spend time on a yacht with the family.
What an achievement and legacy.
Far out.
What a story. Congrats on building a great local agency.
Congratulations Justin, can’t wait to see what’s next.