DDB Group Australia has snatched Matt Oxley from Tribal DDB UK to be head of creative technology for the Group in Aus.

DDB Melbourne won a Gold Lion in the Mobile category at Cannes for its RSL campaign, Minute of Silence. It seems like a very good idea for the Group to keep strengthening its commitment to digital.

Lorenzo Bresciani, managing director of DDB Melbourne remarked, “The combination of creativity and technology is the currency of today’s most powerful brands – so we are delighted to have Matt join us.  He is a world-class talent who has consistently produced outstanding technology and digital ideas for DDB clients in Europe and the UK.  He will add an extra dimension to our already strong creative output and will be a significant asset, both for us and our clients.”

If you are as good as your last job remembered by adland, Matt Oxley is doing just fine. Oxely’s Tribal DDB UK’s Play the Road for VW GTi with dance music band, Underworld. It is software that creates different music as you drive your VW depending on how the car is driven.

Oxley has been head of creative technology at Tribal DDB UK for the last 4 years of his 15 years there. He has notched up accolades, like a listing in Creativity Top 50 in 2010, Cannes Lion Titanium runner-up for Monopoly Live, and a grab bag of Cannes, D&AD, Webby and Clio awards.

Chief executive officer DDB Group Australia, Chris Brown, commented, “This is a great coup for our business in Australia. We are committed to having best in class thinkers who understand the effective use of technology in shaping brand experiences and creating value for clients. Matt’s track record at Tribal UK is outstanding, and he’ll fit brilliantly into our culture here.”

What’s in it for Oxley? “I’ve been watching the Australian market with genuine interest for the past few years. There’s amazing creative work coming out of Australia, and some technology platforms, like your 4G networks, are ahead of the UK. The combination of creativity and the technological infrastructure here makes it a very attractive place to be. I see huge opportunities. And on a more basic level, Melbourne is a wonderful city.”

Tribal Worldwide Melbourne managing director, Richard Lloyd added, “Matt’s a key hire for us. We’re committed to investigating further what technology can do for brands: beyond communications and into products, experiences and utility. Matt’s brain has a brilliant way of thinking about us as humans and the way we interact with technology, and marrying this with business-changing opportunities for our clients. Watch this space.”