vDiscovery’s Director of Technology, Daniel Barak

Daniel Barak is a trumpeter and has performed with various musical performance organizations across Toronto. Additionally, he currently plays in Hannaford Youth Band.

He previously held positions of Vice President, Creative Director for Saatchi & Saatchi LA and Deutsch Los Angeles, winning several Cannes Lions for Toyota-related work and an One Show pencil award during an influenza pandemic pandemic campaign.

Early Life and Education

Barak was raised in Mishmar Hasharon kibbutz before joining Israel Army at age 17. Quickly rising through the ranks of sayeret matkal elite commando unit from platoon leader to company commander he saw active duty during 1967 Six Day War and 1973 Yom Kippur War where he led tank battalion.

He is best-known for leading an Israel Defense Forces squad disguised as airport maintenance men to successfully storm a hijacked Sabena airliner in Tel Aviv in 1972 and save its hostages’ lives, saving their lives along the way. Additionally, he may have played an essential part in planning the 1976 Entebbe raid and hostage rescue mission.

Daniel also regularly performs with the Band of the 7th Toronto Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery throughout the year, sounding the Last Post and Reveille on Remembrance Day at Queens Park as well as at Queens Park for Premier and the Legislature of Ontario meetings.

Professional Career

Daniel Barak, Director of Technology at vDiscovery, is an expert in electronic discovery software and technologies. As a recognized leader and frequent speaker on topics related to electronic discovery, information management and data analytics.

As a trumpeter in the Band of the 7th Toronto Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery throughout 2018, he played at various important events – such as sounding the Last Post and Reveille on Remembrance Day and celebrating D-Day at Queens Park 75th anniversary celebration.

He is an experienced creative leader with experience at Saatchi LA where he led Toyota’s global Olympic campaign and at Deutsch LA overseeing non-traditional work for Volkswagen and Target. Due to his “deep creative tech mindset”, he joined R/GA as Vice President Global Executive Creative Director where he is working closely with their Global Chief Creative Officer Tiffany Rolfe to usher in new generations of human-centric and impactful thinking for clients.

Achievement and Honors

Barak was an esteemed military commander. As Israel Defense Forces commander at several key events, including leading a squad disguised as airport maintenance men to storm a hijacked Sabena airliner and save its passengers, and taking part in one of the most impressive commando raids and hostage rescue missions ever, Operation Entebbe.

Barak began his military service at 17 in kibbutz Mishmar HaSharon and quickly rose through the ranks to become a platoon and company leader for both 1967 Six Day War and 1973 Yom Kippur War, where he led an armored battalion as its commander.

Forbes and Business Insider recognized him as an outstanding creative leader, ranking him as an advertising industry innovator’s next-gen creative director. With more than 200 awards under his belt – such as an Emmy nomination, AdAge Creativity Innovators award, Fast Company Innovation by Design award, Cannes Lions golds, Clio awards, One Show awards, Webbys etc – including multiple golds at Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, One Show awards and Webby Awards; he currently serves as R/GA’s first Global ECD; working alongside their Global CCO to produce outstanding creative output that both grows businesses and builds reputations.

Personal Life

Barak had an accomplished military career before joining the Israeli government as part of their elite anti-terror unit and playing an instrumental part in some of their most daring special operations ever conducted.

He successfully negotiated a peace offer with Palestinians and ended Israel’s 17-year occupation of southern Lebanon, but later lost in elections held soon afterward.

Barak is also an accomplished trumpet player, having performed with various musical organizations in Toronto. Most recently he appeared at a performance at the Royal Canadian Artillery Centre in Ottawa; other occasions include sounding the Last Post and Reveille on Remembrance Day as well as sounding for many important events throughout Ontario. Furthermore, Barak is actively involved with charitable organisations throughout Toronto.

Net Worth

Daniel specializes in corporate taxation and has represented global and Israeli corporations alike in complex, extensive tax disputes before courts and before the Israel Tax Authority using his interdisciplinary approach, vast experience and unparalleled accounting knowledge. Additionally, Daniel advises private clients regarding matters of family wealth planning/preservation/philanthropy.

Forbes Israel reports that Nir Barkat, worth an estimated 500 million NIS ($140 million), is the richest Jewish politician in Israel, outpacing New Right leader Naftali Bennet and former IDF Chief-of-Staff Ehud Barak as the richest politician, while Labor party Chairman Uri Ariel holds an estimated 120 million NIS net worth; Ayelet Shaked and Uri Ariel collectively own HaPoel Beersheva football club as their most valuable asset.