Mat Zucker

“I've had the pleasure of working with Mat at both Ogilvy and R/GA. His craft is copywriting, but his talents and contributions span all creative, production, planning, and account management. When we worked together (Ogilvy: 2000-2005; R/GA: 2005 to 2007), Mat was always looking for ways to leverage technology to enhance, expand, and innovate storytelling that made brands relevant for consumers. Today, that is table stakes. Back then, it was ground-breaking, exhilarating, and rewarding. Mat had boundless energy, infectious positivity, and immutable confidence. A powerful combination that made my time working with him among the most enjoyable of my career to date. I would work with Mat again in a heartbeat. I just hope I can keep up with him.”

“Mat is the most innovative, forward-thinking marketing leader I have ever had the opportunity to work with. I collaborated with Mat on go-to-market initiatives for Prophet's Marketing and Sales practice, and it was one of the best learning experiences I have had throughout my career. His most significant strength is his ability to put the customer front and center in his strategies, campaigns and programs and develop innovative strategies that break down marketing silos and enhance the customer journey. Anyone looking to transform their marketing organization into a growth engine would benefit from Mat's expertise and leadership. I highly recommend working with him.”

“If you’re looking for an empathetic leader who brings top-notch, strategy-backed creative thinking time after time after time, please look no further than Mat. Whether it is thought leadership, go-to-market strategy, campaign development, demand generation, content creation, etc. – Mat’s depth of experience and expertise in brand, marketing, and advertising make him uniquely equipped to tackle creative challenges across the customer lifecycle with a level of genuine excitement and joy for the craft that only he can bring. Expert at bringing the ‘big idea’ to life, Mat’s talent and energy carries his teams from strategy through execution and delivery, all while making sure those involved have so much fun along the way. Mat’s example has taught me the importance of whole-heartedly pursuing work that one genuinely loves. Incredibly thankful for the partnership opportunities we’ve had so far, and looking forward to the next one to come!”

“I had the privilege of working with Mat on multiple occasions, including several client-facing projects as well as internal projects. Beyond the depth of industry experience and creative expertise Mat brought to the team, he also brought incredible energy and was always willing to dive into the detail with his teams, a rare and incredibly valuable asset from a senior leader. As a result, Mat helped build and grow great teams that delivered outstanding work while maintaining a healthy working environment. Truly an outstanding leader and a joy to work with and learn from - hoping we can work together again in the future!”

“Mat's combination of creative thinking, practical experience, and enthusiasm for marketing and brand strategy is what makes him such a joy to work with. Having had the pleasure of working with Mat on multiple occasions, I can't say enough positive things about the way he pushes the team's thinking on what's possible, but is also there to support the team and rolling up his sleeves to bring big ideas into practical application. Being in client services, we often bridge the gap from exciting new ideas to "how does this actually get done," and Mat's curiosity and leadership continue to help deliver work clients are proud of. What a privilege it is to work with Mat, and I hope many others get a chance to work with him as well!”

“Mat is not just one of the smartest people I've worked with, he's also one of the most fun. He manages to take a complex topic and boil it down to its simplest form, but somehow still make everyone in the room feel like it was a joint effort. He's an empowering leader, someone that I know has my back, and not afraid of getting his hands dirty when needed. He's in the detail but flexible on execution driving us all to - what I think is - the best answer while having fun getting there. An absolute joy to work with and look forward to the day I get to again.”

“I had the distinct privilege of working with Mat during my time at Prophet. He is a true talent, and the embodiment of what a modern marketer needs to be - strategic, creative, disruptive, digitally savvy, and a gifted story-teller. Mat's years of agency and consulting experience have allowed him to amass an incredible breadth of knowledge across a wide range of marketing issue sets. On top of this, Mat is also a fantastic leader. He inspires greatness from his teams through his thought provoking ideas, down-to-earth personality, collaborative style, and incredible presence. Mat is a world-class marketer and an asset to any organization, client, or team that's lucky enough to work with him. ”

“If you're in marketing, seize every opportunity to work with Mat. I worked under Mat at Prophet, and it was the best lesson I had on digital marketing, content strategy and (not least) empathetic leadership. We worked with clients across healthcare, telecom, and insurance, and each time, Mat was quick to understand the complex industry dynamic and advise/help implement marketing strategies. He consistently won client trust through his thought leadership, infectious energy and dedication to making no-BS impact. Internally, he led the team culture through his everyday actions small and big, from spotting you a mile away to be the first to say “hi” to poring over pages and paragraphs with you to provide rich feedback that set you up for success. For me, learning from Mat (especially early in my career) was a massive fortune, and I hope you will come across the opportunity to do so also.”

“Mat has been one of the best mentors I have had in my career. I worked with Mat directly at Prophet on several projects, and he was also my assigned coach who provided career advice and advisory regarding issues that would come up on project teams. As a team member, Mat is shockingly creative in his approach to Strategy development. He is able to look at issues and express his thoughts in a way that is engaging, differentiated and compelling. As a team leader, Mat is highly dedicated, and always willing to look through page after page of materials to offer his thoughts on everything ranging from broader arguments to minor details that few others will catch. As a coach, Mat is committed and inspired to help those who consider him their mentor. If you ever have the chance to work with Mat, I highly recommend it because he will make you better at what you, and those around you, do. ”

“Mat is a creative force to be reckoned with. Simply put he is an idea machine, from big brand bets to snackable content across the ecosystem and everything in between. His passion for the industry and a client's business is unparalleled. It's contagious - Clients feel this a mile off. He has a commanding yet incredibly fair management style. He's a great partner to go into battle with and to enjoy the thrill of helping to move a client's business forward.”

“Mat has the ability to lead at any scale: he knows how to run firms, departments, accounts, projects, down to little bricks. What he is quite brilliant at though, is his interpersonal leadership; his ability to support, mentor, encourage, help grow, inspire and much more. It goes far beyond what one would expect from a creative leader. Here we have a man who has not forgotten that we are all human and that we best achieve greatness by staying true to that. I wish him all the success he can get; as I know that he is one of the very few people in the industry who will share it and pass it on, and make it really shine on those around him. Chapeau, Mat. And thank you!”

“Mat is one of the best leaders I have collaborated with. He takes leadership and mentoring seriously, and he leads by example. Mat is equally comfortable (and successful) providing clear directions for his team as he is jumping in and making slides for a presentation. As a junior member or manager, that's exactly what you need out of the Partners on your team. Above all, Mat is just a great person and that carries through to his work. He treats his teams with respect, and reminds us that bringing our personalities to the work makes it more fun and impactful. ”

“You'd think with someone with a title like Global Executive Creative Director that he'd be a real jerk. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. I first met Mat during a new business pitch where my creative partner and I had been brought in as an extra team to help out. Not only did he treat us with respect but he actually listened to our our ideas and then made them even better. He was such a pleasure to work with from a personal and professional standpoint. He's friendly, funny and profusely creative. It's not often that a creative leader at his level can still produce. He's a crazy hard worker too. Right there with us in the wee hours. Thoughtful, insightful, inspiring. He's the real deal. I'd work for him again in a heartbeat.”

“Mat's creativity is exemplary and very much a part of who he is and what defines him. He is constantly generated new ideas. He has cross-channel experience, is management savvy, and strong, trusting client relationships.”

“Mat is unquestionably the greatest supervisor I've ever had. He is honest, generous, and a true partner on details while managing the big picture. He knows exactly where to establish creative boundaries and ensures that the only ego in the room is the idea. He taught me to structure presentations that persuaded readers and left them wanting more. He also modeled how to turn on contagious excitement in an instant. He proved that the risk-averse are in danger. And when he starts riffing on your ideas, it means there's been a breakthrough. Mat Zucker is a Rad Motherfu**er.”

“Mat is the Unicorn King of advertising. You can't believe there could be someone like him in the world—with his wit and humor, his intelligence and drive, his amiability and leadership. But yes, he is very real. I worked with Mat on a high-profile project for Capital One. He kept us focused, inspired and in great spirits throughout the entire roller coaster process. He pushed my writing to new levels, and was so affirming in his feedback. It was truly one of the best work experiences I've had in this industry. Anyone else who gets to work with him, count yourself among the lucky few. Mat's a rarity in this business, and one of the best.”

“Working with Mat was a breath of fresh air. Bursting with ideas as well as with irrepressible energy and commitment, he is the kind of person that makes an agency a better place.”

“Mat's facility for telling a unique story and sophisticated sense of humor drew me into his work quickly. He's also a pleasure to collaborate with, and he revises with as much good taste as he writes.”

“Mat is one of those rare creative directors who is both a right brain and left brain thinker - he has a fabulously creative mind but one that is also matched by astute business acumen. In the nine years that I've known Mat, I've had the pleasure to partner with him on projects that were not only fun and wildly creative, but also delivered sound business results. In 2010, Mat created the Search for the World's Greatest Salesperson campaign, a consumer-facing campaign that sought to honor the noble art of salesmanship while reasserting OgilvyOne's commitment to selling. The effort nabbed a Cannes Lions finalist not to mention helped Mat become a Cannes Juror the next year. Mat also created the DMA Echos Call for Entries campaign in 2011, which successfully gave a fresh face and boosted entries to this global award show. Mat demonstrated his ability to lead the OgilvyOne global creative community with the creation of the Creative Collective, a resource for creatives to share, problem solve and be inspired.”

“Mat is one of those rare creative directors who is both a right brain and left brain thinker - he has a fabulously creative mind but one that is also matched by astute business acumen. In the nine years that I've known Mat, I've had the pleasure to partner with him on projects that were not only fun and wildly creative, but also delivered sound business results. In 2010, Mat created the Search for the World's Greatest Salesperson campaign, a consumer-facing campaign that sought to honor the noble art of salesmanship while reasserting OgilvyOne's commitment to selling. The effort nabbed a Cannes Lions finalist not to mention helped Mat become a Cannes Juror the next year. Mat also created the DMA Echos Call for Entries campaign in 2011, which successfully gave a fresh face and boosted entries to this global award show. Mat demonstrated his ability to lead the OgilvyOne global creative community with the creation of the Creative Collective, a resource for creatives to share, problem solve and be inspired.”

“I've worked with Mat through a few different disciplines (digital, tv, print, social) and at more than one agency, but no matter what the setting or project I knew what Mat expected from me. He sets the bar high - not just creatively, but also from a "will this work?" perspective. I always admired his instincts about when to give a creative team freedom to explore and when to step in and offer guidance. He has a deft touch and a great instinct for pulling the best work from people and projects. I always knew I could take Mat, even the smallest kernel of an idea and he could see immediately what direction I was thinking and whether or not it was worth pursuing. I always trusted Mat - for an honest opinion and a great sensibility. He's the kind of CD I always liked working for, and one who influenced the kind of CD I try to be.”

“I first met Mat at R/GA and have since worked with him at multiple agencies, on fun projects, across multiple brands. Mat is an experienced leader and has natural ability to keep his team excited throughout the project. Mat can connect the dots and drive an idea forward with a determined and optimistic attitude that inspires everyone around him. He's decisive, but warm and collaborative. I look forward to working with him on any future projects.”

“Creatives tend to come up with great creative ideas and never think about how they could be implemented successfully. Without this strategic thinking, your idea is doomed. Mat is great at making sure an idea is rooted in sound thinking. He's on the cusp of a lot of new digital ideas and taught all of us at Ogilvy how to use them. He's also enlightened more than one client. A smart thinker and all around good guy.”

“I had the pleasure of working with Mat for the past 3 years while he was our Chief Creative Officer. We worked together on several pitches and projects over the years and I’ve never been less than amazed by his boundless passion for innovative, creative ideas. Mat’s an incredible resource of knowledge in the industry and always brings fresh ideas to every project. He’s also an outstanding leader and manager who knows how to get the right people together, creating exciting work in the best possible environment. Mat’s been a wonderful mentor to me in many ways and I hope to work with him again in the near future.”

“Mat made me feel welcome immediately. I loved so many things about working with him, especially how approachable he was and willing to work with his teams to elevate ideas. I also appreciate his efficiency to identify and eliminate ideas that would have been a waste of time and focus in on the gems. In an industry where you have 12 things to do at once and 2 hours to do them, I can't express how invaluable the ability to be efficient is. He is also genuinely concerned with the growth and happiness of his creatives. All of which fosters a positive and inspiring environment to work in.”

“Every once in a while, someone steps into your professional life reminding you of why you chose your career path. Someone who breathes new life into your field and approaches every task great or small with zeal and enthusiasm. Enter right, Mat Zucker, a true game-changer for Ogilvy One. I was lucky enough to have worked for Mat on a few new business pitches, as well as on day-to-day business. From the day Mat started, I watched the Direct Marketing arm of Ogilvy completely transform from a staid silo work structure into an innovative 360 digitally-savvy offering. Mat is a sharp thinker whose quick decisions have always improved creative work as well as satisfied clients. His delightful demeanor lights up even the most stressful work environments with a pleasant confidence that naturally leads the way. Just a few of the many contributions Mat made at Ogilvy One while I was there were: *Won new business for Ogilvy including IHG and Citizens Bank just to name a few. *Rebranded Ogilvy One (Re-Direct) and put it on the map in Social Media *Created a Sell-A-Brick Competition challenging creative wannabes to win a job at Ogilvy using YouTube, Facebook and Twitter *Created timely new media content through his own blog and by guest blogging in the blogisphere *Received an award from Facebook in a competition to improve its ad space offering Mat is a true leader. I hope to have the opportunity to work with him again some day.”

“Quick thinking, passionate, humble, accessible, creative, funny—it's no surprise Mat has excelled into some of the most sought after positions in advertising. Mat has an uncanny ability to not only push his teams to create breakthrough work, but bring joy to the process. Work with Mat, you're going to have some fun, and you're going to create stuff you never thought possible.”

“Mat is a keen Creative Director, a fine copywriter, a responsive manager, a helpful colleague and a valuable person. This is a non-solicited, reward-free recommendation.”

“Mat is a great motivator, built complete with a quirky writing style and sharp wit. He is a perpetual and astute student and teacher of digital marketing. Mat has incredible energy and managed to keep myself and others excited about the work no matter who the client was, and what the project entailed. He is goal oriented and leads with great organization and diligence. I learned a lot from working for him.”

“I worked in Mat’s group at RGA for two years and can say that he is one of the most enthusiastic and inspirational ECDs I’ve ever worked with. A generous leader, he fosters a great team spirit and is quick to give credit where credit is due. He has the phenomenal ability to come up with an array of strategic insights and brilliant ideas quickly, spontaneously, and with remarkable ease. He leads by setting a great example and encouraging others to surpass his performance, which is never easy, but fun to try. What better way to inspire great work than that? This guy loves advertising and marketing. Because he understands the industry so well, he is adept at striking the necessary balance between producing great creative and fulfilling the clients’ needs. Clients trust him. They understand that he is working for them, rather than embarking on an ego-laden exercise for his own personal gain. With this trust, he was able to create a level of comfort and ultimately sell in breakthrough work to conservative clients. And he was always on the lookout for new opportunities and ways to grow the clients’ business. In our industry with the (more than) occasional late hour and ever-shifting deadlines, it’s great to work with someone who not only inspires you to concept a better creative solution, but also infuses you with the energy to produce it. Mat just happens to be that person and for that, I’m lucky to have worked with and for him.”

“Mat was a great creative director to work with. He was able to inspire and drive a department that was going through a rough patch and bring us all back to life. He had many great insights not only as a creative, but as a businessman as well. All his decisions you knew were well thought out and executed. He inspired many of us to want to express ourselves with our creative and take pride in our work. It's no wonder why he's still so close to those he comes in contact with over the years.”

“Mat Zucker is the ECD who walks into a meeting filled with tension and seemingly waves a magic wand…the next thing you know the clients are agreeing, approving a concept (and the incremental fee!). When he leaves the room, clients and agency teams are all smiles and the room is filled with rainbows and the sounds of birds chirping. OK, not really…but that’s how it seems. Mat is just one of those guys who is so smart, confident, eloquent and personable, both clients and internal team members stop and listen to him. And since he is so well prepared, so savvy about marketing in every form, such a good Writer/Executive Creative Director – he gets people in agencies to stop fighting over whose binky it is and get down to delivering first-class, effective ideas for clients. It’s not about his ego, or politics – he earnestly wants to do great work and to lead and take care of his teams. In fact, Mat is one of the few ECDs who still fights the penny pinchers for the right to nurture young teams. He reveres the ad greats of the past as he takes risks, embraces innovations, and thrives in an ever-changing environment. An excellent listener himself, Mat is the person many of us go to for career advice. We go to Mat because we know he will help us make the decision that is best for us. A born leader, Mat Zucker is someone his colleagues and peers look up to and whose opinion is valued. Mat keeps us excited about the work and our own passions, which inspire us to love life enough to show up for work every day and do a great job. We all wish we could do as much for him as he has done for us. I would love to work with Mat again, and I look forward to seeing where life leads him, as he is leading so many of us, by example.”

“Mat’s a big proponent of strategy, and working for him as a planner has probably left me a little spoiled. Give Mat an insight and the ideas just pour out. He's great at motivating his teams, giving them the energy and direction needed to transform ideas into smart and creative forward-thinking client solutions. He manages brainstorms brilliantly. I don’t think I’ve met anyone else who keeps things moving the way he does. It’s pretty apparent why he is so respected (okay, loved) by everyone at ACOM. I’m thankful to have worked with him, and honored that he saw something in me when we met at VCU Brandcenter's recruiter session.”

“Mat is an amazingly gifted creative partner. He just gets the online space and comes up with new and exciting ways to express brands using the channel. Also, he knows how to manage a team and deliver on time which always makes a Project Manager happy. He'd be an incredible asset to any company or team!!”

“Mat is an incredible boss with tons of amazing traits: he's a great creative, a great innovator, and a great mentor. Mat always delivers a smart solution for each assignment, often overdelivering. Clients love him, colleagues love him, employees love him. Once you meet him, you'll know why.”

“Mat not only has some of the most kick-ass writing skills around, but one of the best eyes for good Creative Direction in the Advertising field. He is one of those Directors that the team rallies behind on every job he is involved with. He's never focused on just one task, but on the work holistically, looking to push every member of the team to be their best. He goes above and beyond what is asked of him because he knows what it means to be a leader. He knows what it takes to make award-winning creative and that is partnering with everyone...most importantly the client. All-in-all, one of the top Creative Directors in the industry and someone I can only hope to work with again in the near future.”

“I had a lot of fun working with Mat on the Johnson&Johnson account at R/GA--I was amazed by his skill at juggling a lot of projects while seeming to giving each one his full attention. Mat's enthusiasm-- but most of all, the endless stream of new ideas that flowed out of his creative mind--never seemed to run dry, and he inspired our group to pioneer an innovative podcast project that was a big success. I hope I'll be able to collaborate with Mat again soon!”

“The hardest job in advertising is to create a memorable messsage that points to the client's product, not just the author's own cleverness. Matt has an abundance of this particular genius. His copy at BM/Novo made the client look good. He has the knack for award-winning creative, but he uses it in service of the client first.”