DDA, the global communications agency, has hired Matt Andrée Wiltens as senior vp, U.S. entertainment & strategy and Ryan Smith as a director, U.S./domestic film & series, the company announced Thursday.
Already a powerhouse in the United Kingdom, DDA is seeking to expand its U.S. operations, and aims to move more heavily into film, awards, festivals and live events.
Both Andrée Wiltens and Smith will be based out of the company’s office in Los Angeles. Per the agency, Andrée Wiltens will work closely with the DDA partners to continue to build out the film and entertainment verticals as well as identifying and building additional areas of the business in the U.S.
A seasoned film executive and cinephile, Andrée Wiltens has spent the last two decades working in-house at studios, production companies, and agencies, handling an array of communications for film PR, awards, brand building and marketing.
For the last two years at Gersh, where he served as senior vp and head of global corporate communications and led the agency’s communications during a period of significant growth and global expansion. As part of the move, Gersh will also be making the transition to DDA as a client, covering all corporate communications and company events.
Smith spent close to a decade running point and working on campaigns at R&C and PMK, across Apple TV, Lionsgate, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Angel Studios, AGBO, CJ 4DPLEX and more, as well as supporting talent publicity and executive visibility campaigns. Smith will lead the U.S. film and series team in Los Angeles and work directly as a counterpart to Katie Conklin and team in New York City.
“Matt brings a rare combination of creative vision, operational expertise, and extensive industry connections, establishing him as a trusted advisor to some of the industry’s highest profile executives and creatives,” said DDA LA-based partner Dana Archer, making a statement on behalf of the board.
She added, “Ryan is a highly respected and connected film and television publicist, whose leadership and passion for storytelling will shine at DDA. Both are accomplished professionals with a passion for movies, who will integrate seamlessly into our company culture as we continue our expansion in the US.”
Prior to Gersh, Andrée Wiltens spent five years at Amblin Partners, where, as vp of marketing and communications, he led award-winning campaigns for films 1917, The Fabelmans, Green Book, and West Side Story, collaborating closely with Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes, and leading distributors. His work spanned every facet of the marketing and awards cycles. Following his time at Amblin, he worked in-house with filmmaker Michael Mann on Ferrari. He began his career at Paramount, where he spent ten years working across PR and marketing, both international as well as global brand strategy.
Smith started his career at Allied Global Marketing, working on regional publicity and promotions campaigns, and then later joined Click Communications where he supported film and home entertainment campaigns for studios such as Walt Disney Studios, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, and Dreamworks.
DDA’s expansion over the past few years has included the opening of a New York office, launching a joint venture in Dubai to create the company’s first outpost in the Middle East, and launching a live content division. The company has a staff of 150 across offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Dubai.