Matthee: I live in Linden/Roosevelt Park, where all creative-Afrikaans types congregate, work at Y&R Jozi (Bryanston) and I play at home, “watching sport” on my couch whenever I can.
Matthee: Despite working in advertising, and having played in numerous hard rock bands and being addicted to sneakers – I do not drink, smoke or do drugs – have never, will never.
Matthee: I’ve never been afraid to jump from one shop to the next or from one discipline to the next. This devil-may-care attitude has afforded me some highs and lows, but has mostly contributed to building a career that is firmly rooted in integrated advertising solutions to clients’ problems – and a love for pitching “hell of a scary” stuff to clients.
Matthee: My wife and our life, tattoos, sneakers, fast cars, chocolate, SuperSport.
Matthee: That we have an opportunity to use someone else’s money to make really kiff stuff that solves their problems; the fact that I get to wear sneakers, caps and hoodies to work and go into a “suit and tie” boardroom and shoot the lights out with friggin’ lekker work that excites the crap out of people.
Matthee: I think we’re getting there – if this was 10 years ago, I’d have a proper rant about client vs agency relationships. But I think agencies and clients have worked through that, especially if an offering is sincere and truly multi-channel to the benefit of the client. There can be a lekker alignment of the stars when both parties are willing, able, and brave together.
Matthee: Bravery, stamina, luck and insight – and a lot of coffee.
Matthee: Those who have figured out, and mobilised true integration in their organisations – the only way to achieve this is to “drop the attitude and the ego at the f**king door” and get stuck into solving the client’s problem without any preconceived agendas.
Matthee: Y&R SA’s Johannesburg office – The Resurrection.
Matthee: ‘Integrated thinking’ and ‘branded content’ – love ’em, use them all the time!
Matthee: Half-and-half.
Matthee: In my sleep – I have to sleep on a brief.
Matthee: I love public speaking.
Matthee: Pictures of my wife and family, cars, sneakers, and architecture… and home gym selfies… it’s weird, I know!
Matthee: Be patient, be willing, plug into the agency and the work – you have a lot to learn, very quickly, this is not an Instagram filter or a clever tweet – be prepared for the long game.
Simple as that. Connect with Mathee on LinkedIn or visit his blog and view his ‘latest graft’ for more. You can also follow Y&R on Twitter for more.
*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.