Umberto Mecchi

Executive Manager Strategy & Marketing, HOSTPLUS

Umberto joined HOSTPLUS in 2004.  His simple but effective application of marketing fundamentals has enabled HOSTPLUS to create breakthrough brand campaigns and establish itself as a leading superannuation brand in Australia.

At HOSTPLUS Umberto has been instrumental in redefining the way the Fund looks at communicating to and educating its young member base and has received a lot of praise for HOSTPLUS’ financial literacy program Kaching Kaching – a member education program using media personality Scott Pape (aka the Barefoot Investor) across a range of media.

More noteworthy was the development of the business case for the proposal to become a major partner of the 2007 NRL Premiers, Melbourne Storm – a “first” initiative of this kind for a not for profit superannuation fund.  Year 1 saw HOSTPLUS achieve the 3rd highest exposure value in the NRL major sponsor category and 17th across all Australian Football codes.

Prior to joining HOSTPLUS, Umberto worked with the ANZ and National Mutual; now AXA.  In 1999 he joined direct marketing agency – trademarkDIRECTMARKETING 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), HOSTPLUS and Australia Unity Funds Management.

In the non financial services sectors he worked on several campaigns for 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.

In 2008, Umberto was awarded with a FEAL (Funds Executive Association Limited) Executive Education Scholarship that saw him undertake a Graduate Diploma in Leadership at the Melbourne Business School.  Also in 2008 Umberto, picked up the AIST (Australian institute of superannuation trustees) Superannuation Marketing Award for Excellence and his marketing campaigns also were awarded winners of the 2008 ASFA Communications Award and the AIST Gold Communication Award 2008 for Excellence in Member Reporting Communications.  His success continued in 2009 where he was awarded the Rainmaker Superannuation Marketer of the Year.

Umberto joined the EJ Whitten Foundation Board as a Director in 2008 with the aim of further strengthening the Foundations’ brand.