DROGA TO HEAD 2006 CANNES JURIES

Australia's David Droga, former worldwide creative director of Publicis, is to head the film and press juries at next year's Cannes Lions festival.

Droga is currently based in New York, working on the launch of the consultancy he set up with backing of Publicis Groupe, after he quit as worldwide chief creative officer in August this year.

He has experienced incredible success at Cannes, a haul of 45 Lions and two Grands Prix during a glittering career, first at the legendary OMON in Sydney, where he spent nearly a decade, followed by three years as ECD at Saatchi & Saatchi Asia (based in Singapore) followed by three years as ECD of Saatchi's London, then two years as worldwide CD at Publicis.

He moved to New York in 2003 to take up the top creative role at Publicis, but announced he was leaving the agency earlier this year to develop a new kind of business. Called Drogafive, Droga describes it as a "brand ideas and entertainment laboratory". It will open early next year with bases in New York and Los Angeles.

Australia's Terry Savage, executive chairman of the Cannes Lions festival, said: "David is one of the most talented, respected and awarded creative stars today, receiving countless personal accolades along the way. Having made his mark in Australia, Asia, Europe and now in the US, his international outlook makes him the ideal jury president for Cannes."

Droga said: "I am extremely flattered to be the jury president. Cannes has always been very good to me and I hope to reciprocate as much as possible."