DDB New York CCO Matt Eastwood lured to JWT to fill worldwide chief creative officer role

Big announcement for JWT with Australia’s Matt Eastwood joining the network as worldwide chief creative officer. Eastwood (far left) joins from DDB, where he was chief creative officer of the flagship New York agency.

Eastwood began his career as a copywriter in Perth, Western Australia and has overseen some of the most innovative, recognizable and awarded creative projects in advertising today, including the iconic “Yeah, that kind of rich” work for the New York Lottery and last year’s highly awarded “Hashtag Killer” campaign for WATERisLIFE, as well as work for Hertz and McDonald’s. His career has spanned numerous agencies, specialties and countries, including Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.

Eastwood has been a judge at many prestigious industry awards shows including The One Show, Cannes, London International Advertising Awards, ADC New York, Radio Mercury Awards, MADC (Melbourne Art Directors Club), Axis (New Zealand Print/TV Awards), New York Festivals and more. Having spent three years at DDB earlier in his career, Eastwood rejoined DDB Australia in 2006 as National Creative Director and Vice Chairman. He then joined DDB New York in 2010 as Chief Creative Officer.

In Ad Age’s 2013 Awards Report, Eastwood was listed as the 5th most awarded Chief Creative Officer worldwide. During his time at DDB, the agency was named Campaign Brief Agency of the Year, Australian Creative Hotshop, AdNews Agency of the Year, B&T Agency of the Year, Spikes Network of the Year and Campaign magazine Network of the Year.

“Matt Eastwood has everything I have been looking for in a global creative partner,” stated Gustavo Martinez, Global President, JWT (pictured right). “He is a highly awarded creative with an international sensibility, living life as a New Yorker. He is respected by clients and knows how to build global brands. Matt joins JWT at a truly piviotal time in our history. Our 150th anniversary, a year in which we as a network are recommitting to creating pioneering work. I am thrilled to welcome a fellow global citizen and look forward to our future together making new history at JWT.”

“Joining JWT, with its long history of creating some of the world’s most iconic campaigns, is an incredible honor,” stated Eastwood. “But joining them as the company hits its 150th anniversary and sets out to define the next chapter in its history is an opportunity I simply could not pass up. Working alongside Gustavo, someone I’ve long admired, is the icing on the cake.”

The role of Worldwide Chief Creative Officer has not been filled since fellow Australian expat Craig Davis’ departure from the agency in 2009.