Copyright Adweek
One day after announcing his departure from Ogilvy, Rafael Rizuto has landed at Droga5 as chief creative officer of New York and the Americas. Rizuto will lead creative from Droga5’s New York headquarters while overseeing teams across North and Latin America, starting in January. At Ogilvy, the Brazilian-born creative most recently served as chief creative officer for North America for the past 18 months. There, he oversaw work for Dove, Coca-Cola, and Unilever, and helped lead the agency to win a Gold Lion at Cannes for Dove’s “Get Unready,” an out-of-home campaign celebrating post-party skincare routines. Mark Green, global CEO of Droga5, said in a statement that Rizuto will bring “boundless energy to Droga5 as well as world-class experience.” “As we continue to build something new across the globe, Rafa will be a key player in reinventing Droga5 New York as well as harnessing the best of what our team in Brazil can offer to the Americas as a whole,” he continued. “This is going to be a great new chapter, and we are lucky to have someone who is not only talented but also a brilliant human. We cannot wait to see where he takes us.” Rizuto joins Droga5 as it continues to transform under Accenture Song, which earlier this year named Ndidi Oteh as global CEO as David Droga became executive chairman. In 2024, Droga5 merged with The Monkeys in Australia and SOKO in Brazil, added new leadership, and brought on clients such as Xbox, Tourism Australia, and Bosch as part of its plan to restore its creative edge. An art director by trade, Rizuto’s work has earned top industry honors, including a Cannes Lions Grand Prix wins for Boost Mobile’s “Boost Your Voice” and UNICEF’s “Unfairy Tales” via 180LA. He has previously held creative leadership roles at BBH USA, Dentsu Creative, 180LA, and Pereira O’Dell, and founded the independent agency TBD in San Francisco. “I grew up in this business worshiping Droga5,” Rizuto said in a statement. “No other agency shaped me more as a creative.” “We’re at a pivotal moment for our industry, where the role of creativity is being challenged,” he continued. “I believe with all my heart that our creativity at Droga5, amplified with the technology expertise of Accenture Song, is what will set us apart.”
