DDA Appoints New Senior Vice President of Entertainment and Strategy

Key Takeaways

• DDA has hired Matt Andrée Wiltens as SVP of U.S. entertainment and strategy and Ryan Smith as director of U.S. film and series.
• Both Andrée Wiltens and Smith will join DDA’s Los Angeles office and work to build out the film and entertainment verticals.
• Andrée Wiltens brings experience from Gersh, Amblin Partners, and Paramount, while Smith has worked with R&C, PMK, and Allied Global Marketing.
• The hires are expected to enhance DDA’s capabilities in the U.S. entertainment industry and expand its client base.

Introduction to DDA’s New Hires
DDA has announced the hiring of two new executives, Matt Andrée Wiltens and Ryan Smith, to its Los Angeles office. Andrée Wiltens will serve as SVP of U.S. entertainment and strategy, while Smith will take on the role of director of U.S. film and series. Both hires are expected to play a significant role in building out DDA’s film and entertainment verticals and identifying new business opportunities in the U.S. Andrée Wiltens joins DDA from Gersh, where he served as SVP and head of global corporate communications for the past two years. During his tenure at Gersh, Andrée Wiltens led the agency’s communications during a period of significant growth and global expansion.

Andrée Wiltens’ Background and Experience
Andrée Wiltens brings a wealth of experience to DDA, having spent five years at Amblin Partners as VP of marketing and communications. During his time at Amblin Partners, Andrée Wiltens led award-winning campaigns for several high-profile films, including "1917," "The Fabelmans," "Green Book," and "West Side Story." He collaborated with prominent filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes on these campaigns. Prior to his role at Amblin Partners, Andrée Wiltens worked in-house with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Michael Mann on the film "Ferrari." He began his career at Paramount, where he spent 10 years working across PR and marketing. Andrée Wiltens’ unique combination of creative vision, operational expertise, and extensive industry connections makes him a trusted advisor to top executives and creatives in the entertainment industry.

Ryan Smith’s Background and Experience
Ryan Smith, the new director of U.S. film and series, spent nearly a decade working at R&C and PMK. During his time at these agencies, Smith worked on campaigns for several major streaming platforms and film studios, including Apple TV+, Lionsgate, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Angel Studios, AGBO, and CJ 4DPLEX. He also supported talent publicity and executive visibility campaigns. Smith started his career at Allied Global Marketing, where he worked on regional publicity and promotions campaigns. He later joined Click Communications, where he supported film and home entertainment campaigns for several major film studios, including Walt Disney Studios, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, and DreamWorks. Smith will lead the U.S. film and series team in Los Angeles and work closely with Katie Conklin and her team in New York.

Impact of the New Hires on DDA
The hiring of Andrée Wiltens and Smith is expected to enhance DDA’s capabilities in the U.S. entertainment industry and expand its client base. Andrée Wiltens’ experience in building out film and entertainment verticals will be invaluable in identifying new business opportunities for DDA. Smith’s expertise in film and series publicity will help DDA to better support its clients in the entertainment industry. The transition of Gersh to DDA as a client for all corporate communications and company events is also a significant development, as it reflects the strong relationship between Andrée Wiltens and his former employer. Overall, the hiring of Andrée Wiltens and Smith is a major coup for DDA, and is expected to drive growth and success for the agency in the U.S. entertainment industry.

Conclusion and Future Outlook
In conclusion, the hiring of Matt Andrée Wiltens and Ryan Smith is a significant development for DDA, and is expected to have a major impact on the agency’s capabilities in the U.S. entertainment industry. Both Andrée Wiltens and Smith bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles, and are well-positioned to drive growth and success for DDA. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, DDA is well-placed to capitalize on new opportunities and to support its clients in achieving their goals. With the hiring of Andrée Wiltens and Smith, DDA is poised for a bright future, and is expected to continue to be a major player in the U.S. entertainment industry.