In June 2025, Darryn was appointed Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer of Media Design School. Prior to this, he served as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) & Industry Partnerships from early 2023, following two years as General Manager Design and Creative Technology.
He had also previously held the role of GM Design and Creative Technology from 2016–2019, and was Chief Executive of Media Design School (MDS) from 2013–2019. Darryn has a strong background in the tertiary education sector in Australia, New Zealand and globally, previously serving as CEO of Whitecliffe College of Arts Design, Fashion and Technology and as a Board Director for Santa Fe University of Art and Design.
Outside of education, his breadth of experience spans financial services, FMCG, retail, marketing, telecommunications, and digital sectors. His accomplishments include founding the Digital Leadership Group, elevating AIM Proximity as the second best direct/digital marketing agency in the world in 2009, and leading the world’s first entry by a bank into the energy and telecommunications retail markets. He was also the creator and leader of GlobalPlus, the triple-alliance of Air New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand and Telecom.