Matt Houltham departs Naked Melbourne MD role for gig at Naked New York, ex-George Patterson Y&R Melbourne’s Tom Ward to fill MD position

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Matt Houltham-thumb-200x218-41043.jpgtom.jpgNaked Communications Melbourne has revealed this morning that Matt Houltham (left) will be moving on from his job as managing director for a job at Naked Communications in New York. Ex-George Patterson Y&R Melbourne planning director Tom Ward (right) will be replacing Houltham in the role of managing director.

Houltham, who’s family will relocate to the USA, will help grow Naked’s business and build its relationship with emerging technology companies.

Ward is a world-class account planner and business manager joining from George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne where he was most recently national head of insight and strategy. Ward’s background includes stints at some of the world’s leading agencies including Clemenger BBDO, TBWA London, and St Lukes.  

Says Mike Wilson, Australian chairman: “Tom is well known for being a great bloke, and super smart strategist. He inherits an agency at the top of its game having recently been a Victorian Agency of the Year finalist, as well as having executed one of only 9 campaigns worldwide to win a Gold Cannes Lion and Gold Effie in 2012.”

Ward will work closely with Adam Ferrier and report into Mike Wilson.

Says Ward: “Bring it on, I’m stoked to be part of the team. Naked has a culture of innovation and bucking the norm – I intend to foster that attitude.”

Says Houltham: “I am really proud of everything we’ve achieved at Naked in Melbourne. Two years ago we set ourselves the vision to be ‘the envy of Melbourne’, and in many ways we’ve produced the work, and working environment that has delivered on that. I’m looking forward to working with the guys in New York and helping to bolster collaboration around the network”.