DDB Group Melbourne CEO, Mike Napolitano, today announced that the agency鈥檚 Head of Planning Matt Pearce, has been elevated to chief strategy officer across the group鈥檚 brands in Melbourne.
Matt joined DDB Melbourne in 2021, leading strategy across the DDB, Mango and Tribal teams. Drawing on his background of creating legendary campaigns at the height of Clemenger BBDO鈥檚 success, such as 鈥楳eet Graham鈥 and 鈥楬ungerithm鈥, as well as his experience in research having founded fifty5five in Melbourne, Pearce has brought DDB a unique blend of understanding behaviour, insight and the world鈥檚 most impactful creative strategy.
Matt built the DDB Group Melbourne strategy department and instilled the philosophy of 鈥榮trategy as an outdoor sport鈥, getting the entire strategy team into people鈥檚 homes and out in the field to uncover the insights that has led to DDB鈥檚 most impactful work, such as Coles鈥 鈥楪reat Lengths鈥 and Movember鈥檚 鈥楾he Mo is Calling鈥.
Matt's involvement had led to client wins including Asahi CUB, Acciona, Movember, Mr Chen鈥檚, Dabble, Funlabs, Agrifutures, Made by Dyslexia, and Our Watch.
Matt was also integral in the creation of Smith St. - DDB and OMD鈥檚 best-of-Omnicom, bespoke Coles agency - while also building its strategic capability across brand and marketing strategy, media, digital and CX.
His promotion follows DDB Group Melbourne鈥檚 continued growth and role in driving global DDB initiatives, including global research product the 鈥楩eels Barometer鈥 developed in conjunction with research company TRA.
His promotion allows for further strategic growth at DDB Group Melbourne, including an expansion of its behaviour change team and for-purpose offering.
Mike Napolitano, DDB Group Melbourne CEO, said, 鈥淢att is a world class leader who has helped re-found DDB Group Melbourne. He鈥檚 a great strategic mind and with his leadership we鈥檒l continue to help grow the fortunes of our clients and their brands. Internally I could not ask for a better partner, and I know the rest of our leadership group and broader team value Matt鈥檚 unwavering contribution to not just our collective team success but also the individual focus he gives everyone that is in his orbit. Hands down Pearcey is the best creatively strategic mind I鈥檝e ever worked with.鈥
Psembi Kinstan, Matt's creative partner and chief creative officer of DDB Melbourne Group, said of the promotion, 鈥淭here鈥檚 not one strategist in the business that鈥檚 sharper than Matt. He is entirely unique in his ability to distill the complex and simplify client problems and opportunities. In a sea of strategy jargon and bullshit, Matt is a weapon, loved by clients and creatives in equal measure.鈥
Commenting on his new role, Matt said, 鈥淲e鈥檝e built something great at DDB Melbourne, with a truly unique approach to insight-led creative strategy, and I can鈥檛 wait to keep up the momentum.鈥
His promotion is effective immediately.