Umberto is a seasoned Marketing and strategy professional with over 30 years’ experience in senior marketing and strategic roles.

His simple but effective application of strategic marketing fundamentals has enabled Umberto to create breakthrough marketing programs and brand campaigns for leading brands in Australia.

Prior to joining Hostplus, Umberto worked with the ANZ Bank, National Mutual/AXA and Zurich Financial Services in marketing and strategy roles.  In 1999, he joined direct marketing agency – trademarkDM as their Director of Strategy and worked on major campaigns for financial services brands including, AXA Australia, GE Capital, Members Equity Bank, American Insurance Group (AIG), and Australia Unity Funds Management.

In the non-financial services sectors, he worked on several campaigns for BP Australia (BP Ultimate) and leading pharmaceutical brands like Zantac, Zovirax and Lamictal - an epilepsy drug that saw his campaign awarded with an Australian Direct Marketing Silver Effectiveness Award in 2001.

Umberto’s marketing work has been consistently recognised by industry for excellence having received the following accolades:

• 2017 – Ranked 11th in the coveted CMO Top 50 list in Australia for his Marketing Influence and Excellence
• 2017 – AIST Platinum Award for Communications Excellence for the Humans of Hostplus campaign
• 2009 – Rainmaker Superannuation Marketer of the Year
• 2008 - AIST (Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees) Superannuation Marketer of the Year Award for Excellence
• 2008 – ASFA Communications Award• 2008 – AIST Gold Communication Award for Excellence
   

Umberto also holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from RMIT and a Graduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership from Melbourne Business School that included module placements at London Business School, INSEAD Singapore and Kellogg University. Umberto has also completed Squared Online (with honours) – a digital marketing leadership course developed with Google. In March 2021, he also completed and became a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.
 

Roles and responsibilities

Marketing:

• Ensure all marketing and communications are professional, high-performing, compliant and consistently member-focused and achieve the key result areas and key performance indicators set in the department’s business and operational plans in alignment with Hostplus’ broader strategy
• Oversee and analyse the cost effectiveness, efficacy and compliant delivery of the Fund’s advertising media, recommend media to be used, and secure legal approval of advertising material and ensure all business activities comply with all required legal and regulatory requirements and standards
   

Corporate Affairs:

• Responsible for the Fund’s external relations and for internal communication
• Develop and implement strategies to manage the Fund’s relations with the media, government, peak industry groups, sponsoring shareholders, employees and the general public
• Develop and implement the Fund’s media relations’ and corporate affairs strategy in line with the commercial and business objectives
• Receive, co-ordinate and respond to all media and strategic stakeholder enquiries, engagements, and activities
• Manage the Fund’s media releases and other public announcements and responses to media activities and engagements in partnership with Hostplus’ external public relations agency
   

Stakeholder Management:

• Responsible for effective community relationships and delivery of outcomes in consultation with key partners and member stakeholders
• Responsible for key community initiatives that allow the organisation to demonstrate a unique place with constituents, increasing public awareness and support
• Participate in peak industry bodies’ committees and working groups to advocate and influence direction, policy and development in the Fund’s and its stakeholders and members interests
   

Policy and Advocacy:

• Responsible for effective public policy development, positioning Hostplus as a thought leader amongst stakeholders, regulators, policy makers and the industry
• In focussing on members best financial interests, oversee and manage all submissions and communications and ensuring these are evidence-based and well researched and argued
   

Year of appointment to Executive Leadership Team 

2022
 

Qualifications and memberships

• Bachelor of Business (Marketing) - RMIT Melbourne
• Graduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership, Melbourne Business School
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Graduate of Squared Online (with honours)
• Director of Industry SuperFunds Australia
• Member of Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA)
• National Member Engagement Committee
   

Experience

• Umberto is a seasoned Marketing and strategy professional with over 30 years’ experience in senior marketing and strategic roles. 
• CEO and Founder of Mecchinism Pty Ltd (Strategic Marketing Consultancy)
• Chief Marketing Officer Hostplus
• Executive Director Marketing, IFM Investors
• Director Client Services, The Shannon Company
• Strategy Director, trademarkDM
• Marketing Manager Business Solutions, Zurich Australia
• Strategic Marketing Manager, AXA Australia
• Director of EJ Whitten Foundation