Mat Baxter
Founder & CEO, SKINGRAPHICA. Co-Founder, TMRW. Entrepreneur and Investor.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
44K followers
500+ connections
About
I’m Mat Baxter, Founder & CEO of SKINGRAPHICA, a company born from my passion to create the world’s first luxury skincare system designed specifically for tattooed skin.
After more than 20 years leading some of the biggest names in global advertising and marketing, I’ve taken everything I know about building brands, shifting culture and driving results and poured it into a venture that feels both personal and overdue.
My career has been defined less by titles and more by a pattern: stepping into agencies in need of change and helping to reinvent them for the future. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to work with brilliant teams who delivered real impact, transforming businesses, winning Agency of the Year accolades across markets, and earning CEO of the Year recognition personally.
I’ve held leadership roles across the Interpublic Group, including as Global Chief Strategy & Creative Officer of IPG Mediabrands, CEO of UM Australia, and later as Global CEO and Chairman of Initiative. At Initiative, the agency became the world’s fastest growing media network for four consecutive years, reshaping what a modern media agency could be.
I then served as Global CEO of Huge, a creative consultancy in New York. That period was captured in Michael Farmer’s book Madison Avenue Makeover, which chronicled the transformation of the agency and the challenges of reinventing a global consultancy in real time. Most recently, I led Mutinex as APAC CEO, applying data and analytics to help companies make sharper marketing investment decisions.
Through all of it, I’ve tried to stay focused on progress - building cultures where creativity thrives, where people feel proud of the work, and where the work itself makes a difference. With SKINGRAPHICA, I see the same opportunity to disrupt an industry, create something meaningful, and hopefully leave it better than I found it.
Articles by Mat
Activity
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Excited to join Anne Parsons and QMS on stage tomorrow SXSW Sydney #SXSW #skingraphica
Excited to join Anne Parsons and QMS on stage tomorrow SXSW Sydney #SXSW #skingraphica
Shared by Mat Baxter
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Bravo Mat Baxter for the truth bombs. We need more of this. Here's a snippet... "Procurement departments are making decisions. That is ridiculous.…
Bravo Mat Baxter for the truth bombs. We need more of this. Here's a snippet... "Procurement departments are making decisions. That is ridiculous.…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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📣 SXSW Sydney Session Alert – Wednesday 15 October, 10:30am 📣 What really matters to marketers today? QMS, aligned to research conducted by Ocean…
📣 SXSW Sydney Session Alert – Wednesday 15 October, 10:30am 📣 What really matters to marketers today? QMS, aligned to research conducted by Ocean…
Liked by Mat Baxter
Experience
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Investor & Board Advisor
Self-employed
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Initiative
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Founding Partner & CEO, Asia-Pacific
Naked Communications
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Education
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Australian Film Television and Radio School
Master of Screen Arts and Business
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Member of the AFTRS Leadership Panel
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Zenith Media College
Diploma of Media Practice
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Skills
Honors & Awards
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No.1 - Australia's Best Place to Work
BRW
UM Australia is named Australia's "Best Place to Work" in the BRW Top 100 list.
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Silver Media Lion
Cannes International Festival of Creativity
#colouryoursummer for Coca-Cola
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2014 Ad Campaign of the Year
Mumbrella Awards
#colouryoursummer for Coca-Cola
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2014 Media Campaign of the Year
Mumbrella Awards
#colouryoursummer for Coca-Cola
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2014 Media Network of the Year
AdNews Magazine
UM Australia
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2014 Australian Media Agency of the Year
Campaign Magazine
UM Australia
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2014 Media Network of the Year
B&T Agency of the Year Awards
UM Australia
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Australia's 4th Best Place to Work
BRW / Australian Financial Review BOSS Magazine
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2014 Media Agency of the Year
Mumbrella Awards
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2014 Asia-Pacific Media Agency of the Year
Festival of Media, Asia
UM Australia named "APAC Media Agency of the Year" at Festival of Media Asia awards in Singapore.
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2014 Global Media Agency of the Year
Festival of Media, Global
UM Australia named the world's "Media Agency of the Year" at Festival of Media Global awards in Rome, Italy.
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2014 Global Media Campaign of the Year
Festival of Media, Global
UM Australia's XTL campaign named world's "Media Campaign of the Year" at Festival of Media Global awards in Rome, Italy.
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2014 Media Network of the Year
AdNews
UM Australia
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Gold, Best Entertainment Platform
Festival of Media Global
ING Direct, "Spend Your Lunch Well"
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Gold, Best Entertainment Platform
Festival of Media Asia
Meat & Livestock Australia, "The Lambnesia Epidemic"
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Gold, Best Social Media Strategy
Festival of Media Global
Australian Government, "XTL"
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Gold, Best Social Media Strategy
Festival of Media Asia
Australian Government, "XTL"
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Gold, Creative Use of Media
Festival of Media Asia
News Corporation, "Fast Front Pages"
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Gold, Publications & Media Category
Asian Marketing Effectiveness Awards
News Corporation, "Fast Front Pages"
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Ranked #1
AdNews Media Agency Rankings
Universal McCann Australia
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Silver, Best Communications Strategy
Festival of Media Global
News Corporation, "Fast Front Pages"
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Silver, Best Utility / Public Service
Festival of Media Global
Australian Government, "XTL"
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Silver, Financial Services, Commercial & Public Services Category
Asian Marketing Effectiveness Awards
MasterCard, "Locally Famous"
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Silver, Food Products Category
Asian Marketing Effectiveness Awards
Meat & Livestock Australia, "The Lambnesia Epidemic"
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Silver, Social Category
Asian Marketing Effectivess Awards
Meat & Livestock Australia, "The Lambnesia Epidemic"
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Agency Head of the Year 2013
Campaign Magazine Asia-Pacfic
Mat Baxter - Winner - "Agency Head of the Year"
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2013 Media Agency of the Year
B&T Magazine
Universal McCann Australia
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2013 Media Network of the Year
B&T Magazine
Universal McCann Australia
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Australia's 5th Most Innovative Company
BRW Magazine
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2013 Media Agency of the Year
Mumbrella Awards
Universal McCann, Australia
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Australia's 11th Best Place to Work
BRW Magazine
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Ranked #1
AdNews Media Agency Rankings
Universal McCann Australia
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2012 Australia's Bravest Agency
Mumbrella Awards
Universal McCann, Australia for "McDonald's Gets Grilled"
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2012 Media Agency of the Year
B&T Magazine
Universal McCann, Australia
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2012 Media Agency of the Year
AdNews Magazine
Universal McCann, Australia
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2012 Media Network of the Year
AdNews Magazine
Universal McCann, Australia
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Best Communications Strategy
Festival of Media, Asia
McDonald's Australia - "McDonald's Gets Grilled"
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Best Media Campaign - Clothing/Cosmetics & Retail
Media Federation of Australia
L'Oreal - Maybelline "Baby Lips"
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Best Mobile Marketing Campaign
Australian Mobile Awards
Sony Pictures - Men in Black 3 "The Big Widget"
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Best Paid Search Campaign
IAB Awards
ING Direct - "Beating the Big Four"
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Best Storytelling (Non Fiction)
Australasian Branded Enertainment Awards
McDonald's Australia - "McDonald's Gets Grilled"
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Bronze, Best Media Campaign
Spikes Asia
Meat & Livestock Australia - "Awaken Your Beeflex"
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Highly Commended, Best Branded Entertainment
Festival of Media, Global
McDonald's Australia - "McDonald's Gets Grilled"
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Highly Commended, Best Communications Strategy
Festival of Media, Asia
Meat & Livestock Australia - "Awaken Your Beeflex"
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Highly Commended, Best Event/Experiential
Festival of Media, Asia
ECCO - "World's Longest Catwalk"
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Highly Commended, Creative Use of Media
Festival of Media, Asia
Meat & Livestock Australia - "Awaken Your Beeflex"
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Best Media Campaign, Clothing/Cosmetics & Retail
Media Federation of Australia
Unilever - "Lynx Lodge"
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Highly Commended, Best Event/Experiential Campaign
Festival of Media, Asia
Microsoft - "Marry Me Microsoft"
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Media Network of the Year
Festival of Media, Asia
Universal McCann, Australia
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Best Media Campaign, IT and Consumer Durables
Media Federation of Australia
Dell - "Alienware Clan Challenge"
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Best Use of a Small Budget
Media Federation of Australia
Carlton & United Breweries - Asahi
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Bronze Effie, Most Original Thinking
Effie Awards
Bonds - "Undie Pride"
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Ranked #1
AdNews Media Agency Rankings
Universal McCann Australia
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Silver Effie, Other Consumer Goods
Effie Awards
Bonds - "Undie Pride"
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40 Most Influential Men Under 40
Men's Style Magazine
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Media Campaign of the Year
AdNews Magazine
The Coca-Cola Company, Sprite "Thirst for Truth"
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Specialist Agency of the Year
B&T Magazine
Naked Communications, Australia
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Power 50
AdNews Magazine
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Bronze Media Lion, Best Use of Special Events & Stunts
Cannes International Advertising Festival
Golf Punk - "Hypnomarketing"
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40 under 40
AdNews Magazine
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Specialist Agency of the Year
AdNews Magazine
Naked Communications, Australia
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Specialist Agency of the Year
AdNews Magazine
Naked Communications, Australia
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World's Top 10 Young Creative Media Thinkers
Creme Magazine, UK
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Best One-Off Media Idea
Media Federation of Australia
NRMA Building Society - "Mobile Home Loans"
Organizations
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Media Federation of Australia (MFA)
Executive Committee Member
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More activity by Mat
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Proud sibling moment! ❤️🎉 My brother has always been more than just a marketing genius.… he’s been the big brother that’s sometimes driven me nuts…
Proud sibling moment! ❤️🎉 My brother has always been more than just a marketing genius.… he’s been the big brother that’s sometimes driven me nuts…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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When Mat first walked into the Fabulate office, I had no idea we’d secretly walked into an 'anti-pitch', or that we’d be embarking on a journey to…
When Mat first walked into the Fabulate office, I had no idea we’d secretly walked into an 'anti-pitch', or that we’d be embarking on a journey to…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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The launch of SKINGRAPHICA was a powerful reminder of the strategic foundations of great PR. This brand is built on a unique story, first-to-market…
The launch of SKINGRAPHICA was a powerful reminder of the strategic foundations of great PR. This brand is built on a unique story, first-to-market…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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Today marked a big day — SKINGRAPHICA opened for pre-order. www.skingraphica.com I’ve been tattooing for 17 years, always pushing myself to improve…
Today marked a big day — SKINGRAPHICA opened for pre-order. www.skingraphica.com I’ve been tattooing for 17 years, always pushing myself to improve…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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SKINGRAPHICA is now OPEN for pre-orders. https://skingraphica.com
SKINGRAPHICA is now OPEN for pre-orders. https://skingraphica.com
Shared by Mat Baxter
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A Breguet watch costs at least £20,000 and often much more. Just imagine. You spend 250 years perfecting a premium brand with high quality standards…
A Breguet watch costs at least £20,000 and often much more. Just imagine. You spend 250 years perfecting a premium brand with high quality standards…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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I recently caught up with Mat Baxter to discuss his marketing strategy for SKINGRAPHICA. Mat is doubling down on brand building powered by "old…
I recently caught up with Mat Baxter to discuss his marketing strategy for SKINGRAPHICA. Mat is doubling down on brand building powered by "old…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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Having been a media guy for 25 years, for the first time in my career, I'm spending my own money on a media plan, for my own brand. This is what I…
Having been a media guy for 25 years, for the first time in my career, I'm spending my own money on a media plan, for my own brand. This is what I…
Shared by Mat Baxter
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Mat Baxter Thinks Adland is "Asleep at Wheel", Must Stop Cost-Cutting “Death Spiral” Ahead of launching his own brand, the former global boss of…
Mat Baxter Thinks Adland is "Asleep at Wheel", Must Stop Cost-Cutting “Death Spiral” Ahead of launching his own brand, the former global boss of…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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I sat down with Brittney Rigby from LBBonline - Little Black Book to talk about my views on the state of the industry and where we go from here…
I sat down with Brittney Rigby from LBBonline - Little Black Book to talk about my views on the state of the industry and where we go from here…
Shared by Mat Baxter
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I used to marvel at how a particular CFO could be so completely one-dimensional and cost obsessed….. - Instructing procurement teams to beat up…
I used to marvel at how a particular CFO could be so completely one-dimensional and cost obsessed….. - Instructing procurement teams to beat up…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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📰 LBB AUNZ: The Weekly Edit 📰 I marked one year in the role on Tuesday. I'm very proud of everything we've achieved editorially since then…
📰 LBB AUNZ: The Weekly Edit 📰 I marked one year in the role on Tuesday. I'm very proud of everything we've achieved editorially since then…
Liked by Mat Baxter
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More SKINGRAPHICA launch news... Excited for our pre-orders to open 1 October. We are taking registrations for pre-order now at skingraphica.com…
More SKINGRAPHICA launch news... Excited for our pre-orders to open 1 October. We are taking registrations for pre-order now at skingraphica.com…
Shared by Mat Baxter
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