Digital partner Matthew Houltham resigns from ZenithOptimedia and Publicis Mojo, Melbourne for managing director role at Naked, Melbourne
CB Exclusive – UPDATED: CB can reveal that Matt Houltham has resigned as digital partner of ZenithOptimedia and Publicis Mojo Melbourne and is joining Naked, Melbourne as managing director – effective February – where he will replace Frankie Ralston-Good (who is returning to the UK with her husband John Murray, ex MD of digital media at Mitchell Communication Group).
Houltham has carved out a distinguished career within the ‘everything communicates’ communications landscape having held management and strategic lead positions within media, digital, and advertising agencies.
Says Houltham: “I’m excited to join the Naked team. Naked Communications offers a genuine alternative to marketers that is based on building brands through changing behaviour. Naked Melbourne has enormous growth potential and I look forward to working with, and growing their A grade client list.”
Naked Communications Melbourne clients include Kraft, 7-Eleven, TAC, and AB Foods. Naked’s current Managing Director Frankie Ralston-Good has been with the company for 2 years. She is returning to the UK.
Says Adam Ferrier, founding partner of Naked Communications: “We are stoked Matt has decided to lead the Naked Melbourne shop. He’s a first class operator, and one of the nicest and smartest people in the industry. Matt’s a true lateral thinker and Naked has the business model to support his freethinking approach. Matt is a rare breed, being a fantastic manager of people and one of the best strategic practitioners in the game. It’s exciting times ahead.”
Houltam is a regular conference speaker and commentator in the press and is heavily involved in ad industry development. He’s lectured the Advertising Federation of Australia’s eMarketing Certificate, held a seat on the Media Federation’s Digital Steering Committee and been a judge of the Australian Internet Awards since 2002.
Over the last 15 years he has had strategy and management roles in research, media and creative agencies in the UK, New Zealand and Australia where he has worked with blue chip clients including IBM, Telstra, Foxtel, Qantas and Nike.
15 Comments
Congratulations to Matt. It’s been a great journey and look where u r!!
Brilliant man, brilliant mind. Massive loss.
Matt was a choice bloke to work for. All the best mate.
Upper management issues – now there ‘s a surprize!
Biggest loss for the agency since Sam Granleese.
Why would mojo feel the need to imply that. He was a star absolute best in breed. Mojo have now lost ‘everyone’
Jumped off a sinking ship
I resent the assertion in this well written article that Melbourne is left without a digital strategist.
Well done Matt – as you always said the grass is always greener in Greville St.
Andrew Reeves
Digital Strategist (Melbourne)
Congratulations to Naked, Matt is one of a kind.
Exclusive? I read this on adnews.com.au before it appeared on CB. Appears the time on the story has also been changed.
9:41… I notice you are using a Yaffa IP address, so presume you work at AdNews.
No, CB had it first. Our initial story in the early afternoon – which was included in our daily email bulletin at 3pm – was written based on info from an agency insider just as staff was being informed, hours prior to the official PR release which was sent to all trade press at around 5pm, including AdNews. It was scheduled to be released later this week but was fast-tracked because we had already let the cat out of the bag.
Good job fella. Well deserved.
Congrats Matt – thanks for all your good work with us at Tourism Victoria
Does anyone get replaced there, or do they just leave?
Who would believe it…. ZO just got even worse.
The poorest excuse for a media agency I’ve ever come across.