DDB Sydney elevated Matt Chandler into the role of Chief Creative Officer following the exit of the agency's National Chief Creative Officer, Stephen de Wolf.

It signals a shift in the agency's leadership national structure, with no plans for Wolf's role to be replaced.

Chandler, formerly DDB Sydney's Executive Creative Director, steps into the CCO role immediately. He will work alongside newly appointed Chief Strategy Officer, Rupert Price, who will officially join the Sydney team in from DDB Group Aotearoa in September.

Chandler joined DDB Sydney in 2014 as a copywriter, following stints at Saatchi & Saatchi and JWT in London. During his tenure, Chandler has led globally recognised work for brands such as Westpac, McDonald’s and Volkswagen.

Under Chandler's creative leadership, DDB Sydney has won multiple Agency of the Year titles, Cannes Gold, Spikes Grand Prix and a Silver Lion at Cannes for its “Original Mouthful” campaign for Macca’s. Chandler has also served as the National Head of AWARD School and is a Board member of the National AWARD Council.

"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," said DDB Sydney Group CEO, Sheryl Marjoram.

Chandler's appointment is part of a new leadership team at DDB Sydney, which also includes Chief Strategy Officer Rupert Price, and Group CEO Sheryl Marjoram. DDB Australia is part of DDB Worldwide, an Omnicom company named Network of the Year at the 2023 Cannes Lions, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

"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," Chandler said.

"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."