Matthew Arnold

Experience

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  In The House Advertising

  Jul 2005 - Dec 2005

  Account Executive

  Matthew worked as an Account Executive at ITH advertising (a small marketing agency focused on Food Service industry), managing a range of responsibilities as needed:• Delivered samples of work to companies• Organized job bags and traffic• Brainstormed ideas• Worked on cost estimates• Assisted graphic designer• Managed suppliers

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  Mercury Media South Africa

  Jul 2008 - Nov 2008

  Conceptual Consultant (Freelance)

  Conceptual consultant providing ideas for new media channels, ambient media and experiential promotions across a range of large clients. We worked with the strategic and creative teams at Mercury Media to inject new thinking and broaden their horizons.

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  Posterscope SA

  Nov 2008 - Dec 2008

  Outdoor Media Intern

  Matthew started his career with an internship at Posterscope SA (a global leading outdoor advertising agency - part of the Dentsu Aegis group), focusing on OOH strategy, innovation, conceptual development and the implementation of GPS mapping tools for the various media owner sites.

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  Isobar

  Dec 2008 - Apr 2012

  • Managing a team of digital media strategists & planners• Maintain client relationships for all digital media clients• Creating media strategies for key clients (Nokia, Estée Lauder Companies, Nike, AA)• Developing full digital strategies across all digital platforms as well as the integration with ATL elements.• Negotiating with media owners, specifically around leveraging their platforms in innovative ways• Working with global teams and accounts to manage campaigns across Africa Show less Originally Trigger Digital Direct agency which later became Isobar• Led all digital media efforts across all of our brands• Maintain client relationships for all digital media clients• Responsible for digital media strategies for leading brands (Coca-Cola, Nike, Nokia, Cell C,Vodacom, African Bank, Numetro and Red Bull).• Responsible for Google Adwords Paid Search marketing across all clients• Responsible for digital planning, buying and trafficking of campaigns (for first year only) Show less

  • Head of Digital Media Johannesburg

    Dec 2008 - Apr 2012

  • Digital Media Strategist

    Dec 2008 - Jan 2011
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  PixelVulture.com

  Nov 2009 - Dec 2019

  Owner & Features Writer

  Launched PixelVulture in my spare time back in 2009, over the years we have seen the site growing steadily in influence and size, to over 75,000 unique visitors a month. Over this period I wrote over 1,000 articles and reviews on technology, gaming and other geeky stuff along with managing the technical aspects of the website and adserving systems.• Created the brand, website and social platforms• Built the brand from scratch, growing traffic and ad sales to support an editorial team• Honed my writing skills through articles, reviews and previewsWe have won the African Technology Blog of the year two years running (2015 & 2016) backed by the Webfluential analytics and influence platform. Show less

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  Wavemaker

  May 2012 - Apr 2013

  Digital Channel Strategist (Unilever)

  Matthew was responsible for the digital channel strategy for Unilever working at Notabene (now Wavemaker). He worked across all 50+ Unilever brands, creating individual digital strategies and advising on relevant digital media channels based on the brand's target audience and strategic objectives. In this role he worked closely with ATL channel strategists and liaised directly with the Unilever media and brand teams.• Integrated media channel strategy development• Innovation development and tracking• Collaboration with multiple creative agencies• Ran client digital training workshops Show less

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  VML

  May 2013 - now

  • Responsible for Paid Media, Social Media and Data departments ensuring clients’ properties, brands and experiences reach engaged audiences with measurable success.• Responsible for managing a team of 3 senior department managers, collectively responsible for 35-45 people. • Manage key relationships with senior clients and suppliers, with solid sales and negotiation experience.• Senior Member of the company EXCO leadership team, helping shape the future of the agency.• Have undergone leadership training and coaching courses to continue to grow my leadership skills.• Able to work closely with creative teams to develop award winning ideas. Show less Matthew was responsible for managing and growing the media division at NATIVE VML (comprising media, analytics and ORM). In 2015 he launched NATIVE Media a full service media agency that applied digital methodologies to traditional media channels ensuring agile performance focused media campaigns regardless of the channel. This approach led to innovative media campaigns for our integrated clients, delivering real, measurable business results.• Strategic lead for all media work• Led and managed a full department• Responsible for rapid revenue growth of department• Relationship management with key clients Show less

  • Chief Innovation Officer

    May 2024 - now

  • Chief Connections Officer

    Jan 2018 - Apr 2024

  • Head of Media & Data

    May 2013 - Jan 2018