In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's QMS senior account manager Matt Bowd.
Time in current role:
One year and eight months.
How long have you been in the industry?
More than five years.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
It certainly wasn’t always the plan, however, I did have a fair idea of what the job and industry would be like to work in as my Dad was in it for a very long time, and my sister had started her career in media sales just a few years before me. So, there was a well-trodden path leading me to where I am today!
Who is your right-hand person?
I’ve had a few pivotal people in my career but Alex Morrison (group business director, QMS) comes to mind first. While never actually working in his team, I still managed to experience his guidance and advice in both personal and professional aspects of life. I’ve also been fortunate to have some incredible leaders in my corner: Nicole Pennells played a massive role in kick-starting my career, showing me the ropes and putting me in a great position to succeed during her time at QMS. Also, Elliot Devine continues to give me opportunities to grow and continually pushes me to be the best I can be.
What is the best thing about the industry you work in?
Without a doubt, it’s the people and the experience we get to share with them.
And the biggest challenge?
Navigating and staying in front of the ever-changing growth of DOOH, particularly with the advances in technology and data. Every day you need to be upskilling yourself – whether that be programmatic advancements or simply understanding new data sets – with the constant growth of our portfolio.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
In the long term, I want to be leading a national sales team.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I have an incredible family, so while it’s somewhat cliché, my parents are the ones I turn to.
My favourite advert is:
I have two that really stand out to me: Vegemite – I loved the Vegemite Australian Open creative we ran on QMS screens, dynamically updating the score during the match and using classic colloquialisms linking Vegemite and the AO.
NRL – I’m a massive NRL fan (Roosters for anyone interested) and it doesn’t get more iconic than Tina Turner’s Simply the Best ad for NSWRL.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I’m a pretty open book so my team already know too much about me! But being half Italian might be something that surprises a few.
In five years’ time, I'll be:
Group business director here at QMS. My passion is in Outdoor, so working alongside friends I’ve climbed the ropes with is something I’d love to continue doing. I’d also like to have travelled more by then, too.
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