Former Perth creative Mat Garbutt takes head of copy role at Fenton Stephens, Melbourne

Former Perth creative Mat Garbutt, whose last role was creative director of DraftFCB Melbourne, which closed shop back in September last year, has joined Fenton Stephens as head of copy, partnering agency principal and creative director, Alex Fenton, also an ex Perth creative.

Says Fenton (near left): “We’re thrilled to have Mat on board at an exciting time of growth for the agency. Our thinking is very complementary and Mat brings a strong strategic bent as well as creative clout. We’re looking forward to continuing to build the business and see Mat as someone who can help us achieve that.”

Garbutt (above left) is working across Fenton Stephens’ Melbourne and Sydney offices on clients including Tom Waterhouse, Isuzu Trucks, Dexion, Victoria Police and another soon-to-be announced piece of Victorian Government business.

Fenton had his first advertising job in 1982 at Parkes Clemenger, Perth, which was then one of the West’s hottest agencies and a greenhouse for a lot of people who moved on to do their own thing, including the founding partners of JMB&B and Lori Canalini of Gatecrasher. Fenton moved on to JWT Melbourne, Chicago and Sydney, then Whybin Melbourne before setting up Fenton Stephens in Melbourne and Sydney.