SYDNEY: After declining to confirm the appointment of Matt Eastwood as national creative director last week, DDB has today announced the Aussie ex-pat will take on the role as well as the additional post of vice chairman of DDB Australia.
Martin O’Halloran, newly appointed Chairman and CEO DDB Australia and New Zealand, said: “I think DDB is extremely lucky to have such an accomplished, awarded creative join the team, bringing both Australian and international experience.”
Originally from Perth, Eastwood spent three years as a copywriter at DDB Sydney early in his career before moving to Saatchi & Saatchi and becoming founding creative director & partner M&C Saatchi Melbourne. He has spent the past five years overseas, most recently as chief creative officer of Y&R New York. He left that post in October and was one of the names in consideration to replace Simon Collins as CD at JWT, a position since filled ex-Whybin\TBWA CD Mick Hunter.
Eastwood said he was attracted to DDB because of “the quality of offerings beyond advertising – PR, direct, interactive”.
“These days, I just can’t do a campaign without accessing those other disciplines, so strength in those areas is important to me,” he said in a statement. “My mission is to lead advertising into the brave new scary amazing world of TV-internet-plus-all-the-gadgets-we-haven’t-thought-of-yet ‘convergence’.”
DDB has not released details for Eastwood’s dual role or a starting date.
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