10th June 2025
Matt McNeany on disruption, reinvention and investing in your own future
Episode 32
Matt McNeany
Ex-Chief Transformation Officer, Omnicom
Today’s guest is Matt McNeany, former Chief Transformation Officer for Omnicom’s Precision Marketing Group. Drawing on two decades of experience helping the world’s biggest brands and agencies navigate digital transformation, Matt offers some much needed big picture context around AI.
His ‘streamline, expand, disrupt’ model extends the established benefits of greater productivity and unpacks why differentiated agencies will be more essential than ever as the brand, marketing and customer experience rule books are rewritten.
Matt also offers an unfashionable take on the prospects of the holding companies vs challengers like Brandtech, Stagwell and Accentre Song.
Finally he reflects on the human side of transformation, offering valuable advice to all of us knowledge workers to ensure we remain essential.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[05:59] Why optimism beats uncertainty
[07:46] How AI changes businesses
[12:34] Efficiency is just the beginning
[16:39] How HoldCo.s vs indies will play out
[22:10] Pricing in an AI-driven world
[27:59] The increasing risk of agency commoditization
[29:39] Embracing the reinvented customer journey
[32:43] Disruption to white-collar jobs
[36:36] The promise of greater fulfillment
[37:37] Taking responsibility in the AI revolution
Previous episodes
Leading the next phase of digital
Episode 33
Michael Olaye
EVP, Huge
Knowing the people behind the creds
Episode 31
Lisa Colantuono
President, AAR Partners
Creativity as a process
Episode 30
Eric Zuncic
Global MD & CPO, Forsman & Bodenfors
A human-first future for agencies
Episode 29
Holly Maguire
Global Chief Growth Officer, Design Bridge & Partners
Leading with culture
Episode 28
Michael Lebowitz
Founder & Executive Chairman, SPCSHP
A unique perspective on agencies
Episode 27
Marla Kaplowitz
CEO, 4A's
Challenging the global market
Episode 26
James Townsend
CEO, Stagwell EMEA
Every moment is a chance
Episode 25
Nils Leonard
Co-Founder, Uncommon Creative Studio
Making a promise to the market
Episode 24
Conrad Persons
President, Grey London
Nurturing creative cultures
Episode 23
Toby Southgate
Global CEO, We Are Social
Breaking the burnout cycle
Episode 22
Bianca Best
Global Growth Officer, Performics
How audacious ideas get made
Episode 21
Trevor Guthrie
Co-founder, Giant Spoon
The quest for agency simplification
Episode 20
Ruud Wanck
CEO, Candid
From phoney to fearless: building an agency ‘for the culture’
Episode 19
Omid Farhang
Founder & CEO, Majority
Honest leadership in times of change
Episode 18
Josh Krichefski
CEO, GroupM EMEA
The risks of malicious obedience
Episode 17
Greg Hahn
Co-founder, Mischief
Why creativity relies on diversity
Episode 16
Jo Wallace
Global ECD, Jellyfish
The business case for differentiation
Episode 15
Anthony Freedman
CEO, Common Interest
When change becomes transformation
Episode 14
Neil Perkin
Founder, Only Dead Fish
How to maintain entrepreneurialism at scale
Episode 13
Tim Ringel
CEO, Meet The People
How AI is changing the agency business model
Episode 12
Chris Johnson
CEO, TomorrowToday
The secrets of successful client relationships
Episode 11
Alex Lubar
Global CEO, DDB
The recipe for agency swagger
Episode 10
Natalie Graeme
Founder, Uncommon Creative Studio
Building careers in a changing world
Episode 9
Sue Unerman
Chief Transformation Officer, EssenceMediacomX
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