Naked Melbourne hires Tom Ward from GPY&R as MD as Matt Houltham moves to New York
Tom Ward: Patts to Naked
Matt Houltham, MD of Naked Communications Melbourne, is moving to the Enero agency’s New York office.
Houltham joined Naked two years ago from Zenith Optimedia, and moves to New York with a brief to grow the business and build the agency’s relationship with emerging technology companies.
He has been replaced by Tom Ward, who switches from GPY&R Melbourne after a three year-stint stint, latterly as national head of insight and strategy.
Ward’s position at Patts has been filled with Carat’s head of business strategy Mike Hyde.
Mike Wilson, Naked’s Australian Chairman said: “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 nine campaigns worldwide to win a Gold Cannes Lion and Gold Effie (2) in 2012.”
Houltham said: “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”.
Steve Doherty, Y&R Group MD said of Mike Hyde appointment: “We’re delighted to welcome Mike on board. His experience and credentials are unrivalled with extensive brand and media planning skills. In his role, Mike will provide our clients and staff with continued leadership and direction in the strategy and planning space – he’ll be a great asset to our management team”.
Doherty added: “I’d like to thank Tom, who has done an outstanding job partnering our agency team and clients. As a pommy Group Account Director come Strategy Planner he had aspirations to lead and manage an Agency. That opportunity has arrived and Tom has decided to leave us, accepting an MD role. I wish him the utmost success in the future.”
Well done Tom. And well done Mike. Perfect fit for the Patts Y&R brand.
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Mike Hyde is a great bloke and extremely good at his job. Great appointment by Y&R
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Congrats Mike, welcome back to the creative side
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now you’re leaving the Planning fraternity Tom, does this mean the beard will be going?
good luck to both Tom and Mike
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I think there should be a ceremonial handing over of the beard. Congrats to both gents. Welcome to ‘fancy Richmond’ Tom.
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Is that a side swipe from Doherty?
I thought Tom was GPYR’s Head of Planning – not a GAD cum Strategy planner.
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Great work matt Tom and mike.
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Best wishes to Matt – he’s done a fantastic job for Naked Melbourne and will do a fab job in New York
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