Amazon Web Services (AWS) has a new head of marketing for ANZ as of this week, snatching up former Google enterprise marketer to join its local team.

Matt Kaufman joins the AWS team after spending the last three years as global head of experiential marketing and strategic marketing partnerships for Google Cloud Next, Cloud Summits and CXO executive marketing. He tallied up 11 years in total with the cloud giant, also holding roles across global events and strategic partners, strategic initiatives marketing, head of Maps for Work and enterprise product marketing in APJ. Kaufman finished up at Google last December.

With a 25-year career in technology so far, Australian-born Kaufman was formerly the marketing director of tech integration player, SMS Management and Technology, plus national manager of managed services at Drake International.

Mi3 understands the role was a hotly contested one, with the AWS team emphasising cloud technology and services experience specifically over more general technology marketing prowess.

The last permanent person to hold the role was Jadanne Dare, an ex-Adobe, SAP and Verizon Business senior marketer, who held the remit for four years before moved on 12 months ago to become the director and head of brand and strategy for KPMG Australia. Dare was then promoted to CMO in November last year.

Since then, Lisa Cameron, AWS head of enterprise marketing, has been holding onto the marketing leader reins in an interim capacity. Mi3 understands she declined to take on the position permanently.

According to the original job post, the role within the AWS Sales, Marketing, and Global Services (SMGS) division, which is responsible for driving revenue, adoption, and growth from the largest and fastest growing small- and mid-market accounts to enterprise-level customers including public sector. AWS Support also partners with a global list of customers that are building mission-critical applications on top of AWS services.

The ANZ Head of Marketing is responsible for AWS marketing strategy, planning and campaign execution targeted to startups, developers, small businesses and enterprise customers across ANZ. The field marketing-oriented role also oversees regional marketing programs, digital marketing and events and leads a team of marketing managers locally while partnering with marketing leaders and teams in other regions across Asia Pacific and Japan.

In a post, Kaufman said: " I have been so impressed with Amazon, and their vision for the Cloud. AWS continues to invest in products, services and infrastructure that are enabling builder-led invention and reinvention. Generative AI is yet another vector that AWS is enabling customers to take advantage of across the full stack of AWS offerings, not to mention the thriving Partner ecosystem that continues to build their businesses around AWS’s market leadership.

"Amazon’s clear focus on the customer resonated throughout every step of the process, and I can’t wait to be part of the continued journey of customer-led success in the region."
 

- with additional reporting by Nadia Cameron.