DDB Sydney promotes Matt Chandler to chief creative officer as Stephen de Wolf departs

(DDB Sydney Leadership team Rupert Price, Sheryl Marjoram, Matt Chandler)

Following this morning’s CB exclusive revealing DDB Sydney CCO Stephen de Wolf’s departure, DDB has announced that executive creative director Matt Chandler will take the helm as chief creative officer, effective immediately.

Having joined the agency in 2014 as a copywriter, Chandler was promoted to creative director in 2016 and deputy ECD in 2019. Prior to DDB, Chandler had stints at leading agencies including Droga5 Sydney, JWT London, Saatchi & Saatchi X London and M&C Saatchi Sydney.

In the intervening decade, he rose to lead globally recognised work for DDB Sydney’s roster of long-term partners Westpac, McDonald’s and Volkswagen. During his time on the DDB creative leadership team, the agency has been awarded multiple Agency of the Year titles, as well as Cannes Gold, Spikes Grand Prix and just last month, a Silver Lion at Cannes for its “Original Mouthful” campaign for Macca’s.

Chandler has also been a consistent and active figure in the industry, having served as the national head of AWARD School, and now as a Board member of the National AWARD Council. The promotion of Chandler rounds out the refreshed Sydney leadership team with new chief strategy officer Rupert Price, and group CEO Sheryl Marjoram.

Says Marjoram: “Matt is one of those rare humans that cares deeply about the work and equally about the people behind it. He is one of our industry’s greatest storytellers. Everyone leans in to listen and in these increasingly challenging times, emotional storytelling is what makes all the difference.

“Matt’s superpower of emotionally charged storytelling, coupled with Rupert’s relentless pursuit for effectiveness, is going to be a formidable force.”

Commenting on his new role, Chandler says: “When I walked into DDB Sydney’s Mountain Street offices 10 years ago, I was just excited to be working with the best people and brands you could find in Australia. Honestly, I feel the same way today. I’ve been a beneficiary of the many talented and generous people who have passed through the agency. The responsibility of now leading DDB Sydney is an opportunity for me to repay all that goodwill by making sure everyone gets the same experience.

“The only reason to stay in one place for a long time is because you feel like there’s potential for you and for the agency. Working alongside Rupert and Sheryl and what I reckon is the best creative department in the country, there’s never been more potential than right now.

“That potential I see at DDB extends to the rest of our industry, which I know to be filled with wildly talented and ambitious creative people, and I’m proud to be part of it. I hope we continue to all make each other bolder and better, more and more often.”