Matt MacDonald

Matt MacDonald

Chief Creative Officer at BBDO New York
New York, United States

About me

Matt MacDonald is a global creative leader with over twenty years experience on some of the worlds biggest consumer, retail and technology. He's written award-winning campaigns for brands like AT&T, Macy's, JetBlue, Smirnoff and Ford, created reality shows for TLC and MTV, an animated prime-time Christmas special for CBS, documentaries for the film festival circuit and one open-source grade school musical.

In 2014, BBDO tapped Matt to lead creative on AT&T, their largest account in America, managing integrated, cross-agency teams in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas. In 2016, Matt led the creative charge for Omnicom's win of AT&T's $2 billion combined media and creative business — a two-month race to not just deliver new ideas, but also a re-invented agency model where creative, media, and data join forces for better, sharper, more innovative work. In April, 2022, Matt was elevated to Chief Creative Officer, New York.

Prior to BBDO, Matt was instrumental in the creative transformation of JWT New York, joining that agency as a copywriter in 2003, rising to Chief Creative Officer in 2012. Along the way, he helped lead that agency to its best award show performance in more than a decade. Matt and his teams have won every major industry award across disciplines multiple times, including Cannes Gold Lions in Film, Branded Content, Digital and Mobile.

He holds degrees from Bradley University and the University of Texas at Austin. Lives in a ramshackle midcentury modern undergoing permanent reno in Connecticut. And spends the rest of his time doting on his wife, Jillian, and four kids, Alexandra, Finley, Milo and Tobias (aka the Junior Clients.)

Positions

Chief Creative Officer (CCO)
New York, United States
April 2022 - Present (1 year 11 months)
EVP Executive Creative Director
New York, United States
January 2014 - April 2022 (8 years 3 months)
Chief Creative Officer, New York
New York, United States
2003 - 2013 (10 years)
Chief Creative Officer, New York May 2012 - Dec 2013
Took the creative reins of J. Walter's Thompson flagship office in New York. Rebuilt the creative department and led it to its best award show performance in a decade.Took the creative reins of J. Walter's Thompson flagship office in New York. Rebuilt the creative department and led it to its best award show performance in a decade.

Executive Creative Director Aug 2010 - May 2012
Macy's, Smirnoff, JetBlue among others.Macy's, Smirnoff, JetBlue among others.

Creative Director Jun 2007 - Aug 2010
JetBlue, Ford, Macy's, Jose Cuervo, Smirnoff, Rolex, DeBeers among others.JetBlue, Ford, Macy's, Jose Cuervo, Smirnoff, Rolex, DeBeers among others.

Copywriter Oct 2003 - Jun 2007Debeers, Rolex, L.L.Bean, Tanqueray, Smirnoff, Visine, Sudafed, and others.

Education

M.A., ADVERTISING

2001 (1 year)
As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, taught undergraduate creative labs for the introductory advertising course. As a research assistant to Professor Neal Burns, won a grant from NASA to develop long-term communication strategies for a human mission to Mars. Helped coach the UT Speech Team to the national championship in 2001.

B.S., ADVERTISING

1998 (1 year)
Competed four years on the Bradley Speech Team, winning over 200 individual speaking awards, four team national championships, and personally taking 2nd at nationals a somewhat-frustrating three times. Elected team President senior year. Inducted into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame in 2001.

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