Draftfcb Hires Global Chief of Staff
Peter Drakoulias, who had been working with Draftfcb as a strategic consultant and adviser to agency leaders, has officially joined the agency’s leadership team as global chief of staff, a new post.
Drakoulias, who reports to CEO and president Laurence Boschetto, is also partnering with George Kane, EVP, worldwide financial director, to oversee global M&A activity, including the full integration of all companies Draftfcb acquires.
Drakoulias has a rich and varied career history spanning 20+ years, during which he’s worked with people like Donny Deutsch and Russell Simmons (founder of Def Jam Records and Phat Farm apparel). As a partner at Deutsch from 1994 – 2002, he was directly responsible for business development, agency compensation, opening new markets, digital, corporate communications and real estate, among other duties. During that time, the agency grew from one office with 123 employees to four offices with 850 employees, while billings quintupled.
As the CEO of Rush Mobile from 2003-07, he partnered with Russell Simmons to research the opportunity, raise capital, build a team, engage top-tier partners and target a niche audience in the launch of a new offering in the mobile phone space. Leveraging the range of properties in the Simmons’ portfolio, he was the chief architect and negotiator of a multi-year, eight-figure, branded entertainment package.
Drakoulias also worked early in his career with Boschetto when he joined Adler Boschetto Peebles in a business development role. “I knew then that he was a major talent, and believe him to be particularly well-qualified to serve as a strategic sounding board for our leadership team going forward,” said Boschetto. “He’s a diplomat who will help leverage the assets within our network and help boost our presence in the industry.”
Drakoulias is also extremely committed to diversity and inclusion. His commitment to giving back to those less fortunate is very much in line with Draftfcb’s corporate culture. In 1999, he founded the TORCH program (www.thetorchprogram.org). TORCH, an acronym for Together Our Resources Can Help, provides hands-on training in communications and the arts to underserved, New York City high school students, all while facilitating a meaningful way of increasing the diversity of the workforce in those industries.
