Y&R Asia president Matthew Godfrey moves to Singapore anti-obesity start-up
The recently-departed president of Y&R Asia has resurfaced as chief executive officer for Singapore-based food start-up Nutrition Innovation.
Matthew Godfrey, who held the leadership role at the WPP-owned creative agency for seven years, left Y&R last month in unspecified circumstances.
He has spent more than 20 years in the Asia-Pacific advertising industry, leading agencies such as Bates and Publicis before moving to Y&R. His successor has still to be named.
Godfrey’s departure follows that of Y&R Singapore managing director Melvin Kuek, who was replaced by former ZOO boss Shirley Tay in April. The network’s operation in The Philippines also recently lost its short-lived CEO Randy Aquino, who was replaced by Cheil’s Onat Roldan after less than a year.
In his new role, Australian-born Godfrey will lead the launch of Nutrition Innovation’s signature product, Nucane, “a low GI sugar cane… aimed at combatting the global obesity and diabetes epidemic” through a number of brand partnerships.
“Matthew has the leadership track record and skills that can help accelerate Nutrition Innovation’s success and growth,” said Nutrition Innovation’s founder and chairman David Kannar. “Our purpose is to make the world a healthier place and sugar is a major focus of the global health debate.”
“The world is ready for Nucane.” added Godfrey. “What David has invented is a potential gamechanger for world health.”
His track record at Bates and YR speaks volumes. Look at where both agencies are now!
And his bio on their site says: “21 year career in the food and beverage industry”. Is that while managing the heineken account?
[Edited under Mumbrella’s community standards]
ReplyThe fact that he was at Bates and Y&R speaks volumes in itself. The two miserable dents in Marty’s crown.
ReplyDot 1: The most juvenile strategic planning briefs, regionally.
Dot 2: Consequentially, the most uninspiring creative work, regionally.
The shortest distance between two dots is a line.
Sable drew that line.
ReplyAnother self-professed ‘change agent’ with a legacy of change.
ReplyIn the opposite direction.
Come on, Matt’s one of the nicer ones in the business. Might not have driven Y&R to greatness but at least he wasn’t an a**hole. All the best to him, it’s an interesting business and well timed if one looks at the PMs speech. After years of advertising, we should all go do some good in the world.
ReplyLaddat?
ReplyThere are a few other regional heads who were also nice.
ReplyBut also effective.
They left a legacy of success for others to build upon.
[Edited under Mumbrella’s community standards]
Succinctly put!
To add: the other regional heads didn’t appoint poor regional strategic and creative heads just to flaunt good financials.
ReplyAgree with above. Matt is one of the nicest agency heads I have met. Honest, open and surprisingly low on ego. Meeting him was always a welcome break from talking to some of the folk running rival agencies.
I wish him nothing but good luck in his venture. Good timing imo, as regional head of one of the big networks is not a position that holds much positive future
ReplyComparing to other agency heads on superficial parameters like NICE seems odd… this is about performance, pure and simple.
The world needs more effective people, we got enough nice ones. Nice is just a cover for treading water… [Edited under Mumbrella’s community standards policy].
You need someone exceptional to make a success of the alternative sweetener business, specially a shaky product like this one. Based on track record, this appointment must be viewed as a joke. There are already some very good natural substitutes (sugar alcohols like erythritol and monk fruit powder) that have have 0 carbs and 0 calories and 0 glycemic load. Nucane says it has a LOW glycemic load….so it could be one or 2 points below white sugar….not 100% certain it won’t trigger insulin, curb obesity or diabetes. How can you discover a low GI cane plant unless you modify it genetically? The info on their website is sketchy, with no empirical evidence. If this was such a hot idea, the VC guys would be all over it in no time. But they aren’t.
ReplyYour first paragraph is fair. Except I was not clear that the parameters for comments were defined. Can you point me in the right direction?
Your second paragraph (what’s left of it), again please point me in the direction of these ‘nice’ agency heads. And you know what would be good? Combining effective with good character. Sorry, but in my time dealing with agency CEOs, I didn’t find many that could do this beyond a very superficial level.
ReplyAgreed. Fact is advertising is a ticking time bomb. The higher you go, the higher the fall and no one appreciates loyalty or an opinion. He’s moved on at the right time and medicine/healthcare is a booming business. Smart move.
ReplyCurrent Regional (yeah, Regional, for years) Head of Planning: Mr Haari from Bombay.
Ex Sg ECD #1: Mr Faroke Madon from Bombay.
Ex Sg ECD #2: Mdm Kamal Bedi from Bombay.
So, Mattie showed off a stellar bottom line with all the savings from these thrifty C-suite hires.
Without sparing a thought for either Young or Rubicam.
ReplyWe should pause here to pay tribute to a fellow who trod with such a light touch, he never left any mark on anything.
Planners will thank him for doing their strategy.
Writers will appreciate all the ideas he save them from cracking.
Art directors, designers, typographers, film editors, directors, cinematographers, music composers will have a lost a valuable
teacher. We’re talking about someone who literally knew everything there is to know.
Some of course will nitpick and point fingers at the dismal new business performance, leadership and client retention over the past decade or so. Well, you can’t please everyone.
ReplyI’ve worked with Mattie long enough at Bates to know that he’s a really lovely guy. May not be top hire for business, strategic or creative smarts, but he sure wears his heart on his sleeve. He also knows when to let his team roll up their own sleeves and let the beer kick in, after a hard day at work. Good luck mate. Wish you nothing but the best.
ReplyPale Ales, pale bonuses. Bates or anywhere.
ReplyNot for the bosses.
ReplyMaybe for the rest.
Have your say