Chief Creative Officer of Scholz & Friends, a VML network company, chosen as Industry Craft president for 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
Matthias Spaetgens, partner and chief creative officer at Scholz & Friends, a VML network company, has been appointed as the Industry Craft president for the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This high-profile role underscores Spaetgens’ significant contributions to the creative industry and his leadership within the VML network.
As the chief creative officer of the Scholz & Friends Family, Spaetgens oversees a network of offices in Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Vienna, and Zurich. His impressive client roster includes major brands such as McDonald’s, Volkswagen, PayPal, and IWC Schaffhausen, alongside prominent institutional clients like the European Commission and several German Federal Ministries.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Spaetgens has made a notable impact in academia. Since 2010, he has served as a university professor and currently leads the Communication Design department at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria. Under his guidance, his students have emerged as some of the most promising talents in the field, consistently winning creative awards and securing positions at top agencies and design studios across Europe.
Spaetgens is celebrated as one of Germany’s most awarded creatives, having earned over fifty Lions at Cannes. His accolades include being ranked the second most awarded Chief Creative Officer globally in The Drum World Creative Rankings in 2021, and in 2009, he was recognized as the best Creative Director worldwide.
His journey with Scholz & Friends began over 25 years ago after studying graphic design in Munich. Rising through the ranks, he became Managing Director in 2007 and assumed the role of Chief Creative Officer in 2015, where he continues to drive the agency’s creative excellence.
Spaetgens’ expertise is widely acknowledged, as evidenced by his participation as a jury member at nearly all major international award shows, including Cannes Lions, The One Show, D&AD, Clio Awards, and London International Awards. His appointment as Industry Craft president for the 2025 Cannes Lions Festival is a testament to his enduring influence and leadership in the creative industry.