Marketing guru picked to lead Guy’s team

A “tough as nails” progressive right marketing guru has been hand-picked by Matthew Guy to run the opposition leader’s new-look team.

Liberal Leader Matthew Guy with his newly appointed chief of staff Mitch Catlin. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The dust is finally settling (was there any to start with?) after the least surprising leadership spill at Spring St on Tuesday.

Has the Victorian Liberal Party ever seemed so positive?

Matthew Guy took the party leadership after Michael O’Brien decided not to contest the ballot.

All about there was talk of unity and kumbayas except from MOB.

The soon-to-be-vanquished was heard uttering a few c-words on Sunday about the supposed supporters coming out against him.

Mitch Catlin has appeared from left field, or should that be the progressive right, as chief of staff to Matthew Guy.

Readers may recall Page 13 speculating Catlin, who has had a corporate career in executive roles across Melbourne brands Myer and Swisse, was a potential candidate for the seat of Nepean, where he lives on the Mornington Peninsula.

He put his hand up to help unite the troubled Victorian Liberals with his no-nonsense approach.

Considered “tough as nails” by those in the business world, he knows how to get a message across.

Liberal leader Matthew Guy, Mitch Catlin and deputy Liberal leader David Southwick. Picture: Tim Carrafa

His social media videos attacking the lockdowns made his tirades as a guest on 3AW’s Nights with Denis Walter seem positively tame.

Former 7 News Melbourne executive producer Lee Anderson, appointed by O’Brien’s team last month to oversee the Libs’ communications strategy, will move to Guy’s office as media adviser.

But snouts tell Page 13 there will not be bloodletting. It’s understood former Channel 7 footy reporter Mark Stevens and Mitch Grayson, O’Brien’s former chief of staff, will play roles in the new team.

Back to Catlin, who has politics in the blood before his foray into the business world where he launched Buy Aussie Now, an initiative to resurrect local business and opened by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Before that he worked in the press gallery for Channel 7 and was the head of media for former Howard government minister David Kemp.

Colleagues have described the openly gay Catlin as intelligent and insightful.

“He is very forthright, but extremely fair and caring, and concerned for equality,” said one supporter.

“Perfect for politics and driving change.”

Others say Catlin is “as tough as nails and being six foot five can be quite scary on any given day”.

Page 13 understands he signed on Thursday with his first day at Parliament House on Friday, where he was pictured with Guy and new deputy leader David Southwick.

Keeping the focus on the boss, Catlin confirmed he had joined the team but declined to say any more.