Dentsu’s Patricio de Matteis to step down, CEO replacement named
Dentsu ANZ’s chief executive officer Patricio De Matteis has departed the holdco, effective immediately, with New Zealand boss Rob Harvey replacing him.
According to a release on Wednesday, De Matteis has “decided to step down” after guiding the business through a “period of significant change”.
He joined in 2023 following the consolidation of 26 brands into five core agencies.
In the release, the holdco said De Matteis “leaves with dentsu’s best wishes”.
Patricio De Matteis
He is replaced by Harvey, who has been with Dentsu since 2011. Harvey has been CEO of the New Zealand market since 2013, leading significant growth in the business, including building up the consultancy Merkle Aotearoa.
Alongside his day job, Harvey is president of the Commercial Communications Council in New Zealand, where he advocates for the industry to drive progress in sustainability, inclusion, and societal impact. He is also a board trustee of the Make-a-Wish Foundation Aotearoa.
“Rob’s appointment marks a deliberate and confident step forward for dentsu ANZ, reinforcing our commitment to our people, sharpening the value we deliver to clients and laying the groundwork for more meaningful, impactful outcomes,” Yoshiki Ishihara, global chief strategy officer and APAC lead at Dentsu, said in the release.
“Rob is already deeply embedded in the business and brings a strong track record of building enduring client partnerships, leading with clarity and delivering results. His commercial acumen, deep client understanding and ability to unite teams across markets positions him well to lead ANZ into its next phase with discipline and ambition.”
Ishihara said this transitions aligns to Dentsu’s ‘Mid-Term Management Plan’ and focus on accelerating growth through Media++.
He also thanked De Matteis: “I’d like to thank Patricio for his leadership and for establishing a strong strategic foundation across Australia and New Zealand, uniting capabilities and deepening our focus on future growth levers.”
Harvey said it has been a “privilege” leading the New Zealand business for over a decade.
Rob Harvey
“This chapter has shaped me deeply, not only because of the results we’ve delivered together as a team, but the trust we’ve built with clients and the inclusive values-led culture we have fostered.”
As he steps into the CEO role across ANZ, he said he sees a “powerful opportunity” to “accelerate how we create value for clients through more integrated, innovative and insight-driven solutions”.
“I’ve spent the past year working more closely with our Australian teams, closely collaborating with Kirsty [Muddle] and Fiona [Johnston], and have been energised by the ambition, talent and hunger to lead,” he said in the release.
“This next chapter is about sharper focus, deeper collaboration and unlocking the potential that comes from truly operating as one. I’m excited to get started, and even more excited to do it alongside such outstanding people.”
Harvey will be based between Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney.
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Lauren McNamara is a freelance journalist contributing to Mumbrella. She previously spent three years at the publication, most recently as the associate editor. She first joined in 2022 after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS. She left her staff role at Mumbrella in August 2025.
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The downfall of Mitchells to DAN to Dentsu in Australia would make a fascinating case study in what not to do.
Where did it all go wrong?
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Best decision Dentsu have made in some time.
Congrats Rob.
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