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M+C Saatchi Group

International advertising agency network From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Not to be confused with Saatchi & Saatchi.

M&C Saatchi PLC, known as M+C Saatchi Group (LSE: SAA) is a global creative solutions company and the world’s largest independent creative network.[1] The network connects specialist expertise, powered by creativity, data and technology, to help build famous brands, solve the most complex business and societal challenges, and create and curate Cultural Power for it's clients. Headquartered in London, operations span 22 countries with major hubs in the UK, US, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

Quick facts Traded as, Industry ...

M&C Saatchi PLC is on the AIM Marketof the London Stock Exchange.

In May 2022, Next 15 Group PLC tried to buy M&C Saatchi Group PLC for $387.2 million.[1]

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History

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M+C Saatchi Group began as an advertising agency in 1995, founded by Maurice & Charles Saatchi, Jeremy Sinclair, Bill Muirhead and David Kershaw, in a split from Saatchi & Saatchi. A number of Saatchi & Saatchi's London management and creative staff also joined. Some clients soon followed, including Gallaher Group, Mirror Newspapers, the retailer Dixons and after a competitive pitch, British Airways and its part subsidiary Qantas, as well as the Conservative Party, for whom they made the infamous New Labour, New Danger adverts. By early 1996, the network consisted of offices in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, New York and Auckland.[2] In 2020, the group stated that it operated in 24 countries, with regional offices in London, New York, Milan, Cape Town, Sydney and Singapore.[3]

In 2019, some accounting errors from previous financial years were discovered. Problems included the early recognition of revenue for projects not fully completed and the capitalising of assets which ought to have been expensed. The issues were brought to the attention of the PLC directors and an announcement was made that charges of £6.4M would be booked in the 2019 year relating to either 2018 or 2019.[4] PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed as independent advisors to review and confirm findings.[5] In December 2019, the Board announced the total charges would in fact be £11.6M.[5] The company's original auditor KPMG resigned earlier in 2019.[5]

It was reported that the agency's client, the Financial Conduct Authority – Britain's financial watchdog - issued a formal request for information to examine M+C Saatchi's disclosure of the accounting problems which prompted the share price fall.[6]

In January 2021, the founders of the agency stepped down and Moray MacLennan became the new CEO.[7] In January 2021, M+C Saatchi Group hosted a virtual capital markets event for institutional investors and analysts, where they announced a new strategy and operating model.[8] The new mantra 'We Navigate, Create and Lead Meaningful Change' was launched, described by MacLennan as a 'new chapter' for M+C Saatchi.[9] Following this launch and announcement of positive financial results, the M+C Saatchi plc share price rallied, jumping from 90p to 150p in early March 2021.[10]

On the 13th May 2024, Zaid Al-Qassab, former CMO of Channel 4, joined as Global CEO.

On 18 March 2025, M+C Saatchi Group unveiled its new global strategic proposition: Cultural Power. The launch included a refreshed brand identity and the introduction of the Cultural Power Index - an AI-powered, data-driven diagnostic and insights tool that measures a brand’s cultural power and its effect on business performance.

Cultural Power represents the unique advantage M+C Saatchi Group creates for its clients, enabling them to tap into cultural forces to fuel desire, generate demand, and accelerate brand growth.

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Board

Heather Rabbatts, Non-Executive Chair, Zaid Al-Qassab, Global CEO, Simon Fuller, Chief Financial Officer, Colin Jones, Non-Executive Director, Georgina Harvey, Non-Executive Director and Chris Sweetland, Non-Executive Director make up the M+C Saatchi Board as of 2025.[11]

In July 2023, it was announced that Moray MacLennan would be stepping down as CEO.[12] On the 13th May 2024, Zaid Al-Qassab, previous CMO of Channel 4, joined as Global CEO.

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Awards

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Agency Awards include:

  • M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment won “Sponsorship Agency of the Year” 2024
  • M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment won “Innovative Agency of the Year” 2024
  • M+C Saatchi Performance named “Global Performance Marketing Agency of the Year” 2024.
  • M+C Saatchi Group AUNZ named #1 Independent Network in Australia 2024
  • Campaign, Start-up Agency of the Year: Fluency, 2023.[13]
  • UK Sponsorship Awards, Agency of the Year: M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, 2023.[14]
  • Fast Company names SS+K, part of M+C Saatchi Group The 10 most innovative companies in advertising of 2023.[15]
  • Marketing Interactive Agency of the Year Awards, Creative Agency of the Year (Gold), Independent Agency of the Year (Silver), Agency team of the year (Silver), Best Agency - client partnership (Silver) M+C Saatchi Malaysia 2023.[16]
  • The American Business Awards, Marketing or Advertising Agency of the Year M+C Saatchi Performance US 2022.[17]
  • Campaign Media, Performance Marketing Agency of the Year Bronze, 2022.
  • Agency of the Year Campaign Awards, M+C Saatchi Indonesia, 2021.[18]
  • Agency of the Decade, NC Digital Awards, M+C Saatchi Milano, 2021.[19]
  • Most Innovative Company, Australian Financial Review Awards, M+C Saatchi Australia Group, 2017, 2019.[20]
  • Agency of the Decade, Mobile Marketing Effectiveness Awards, M+C Saatchi Performance (formerly known as M+C Saatchi Mobile), 2020.[21]
  • Large Agency of the Year, FM Adfocus Awards, M+C Saatchi Abel, 2019.[22]
  • Agency of the Year, BT Sport Industry Awards, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, 6 times winners.[23]
  • Leading Consultants, Financial Times, Clear M+C Saatchi, 2017–21.[24]
  • Large Consultancy of the Year, UK Sponsorship Awards, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, 2019.[23]
  • Most Effective Media Agency The Drum, M+C Saatchi Performance, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.[25]
  • Digital Agency of the Year, The DADI Awards, M+C Saatchi Performance, 2016.[25]
  • Consultancy of the Year, PR Week, M+C Saatchi PR, 2017.[26]
  • Agency of the Year, Campaign Asia-Pacific, M+C Saatchi Australia Group, 2015.[27]
  • Creative Talent Management Agency of the Year, Business Excellence Awards from Acquisition International Magazine, M+C Saatchi Merlin, 2014.[28]

Work Awards include:

  • Bronze Cannes Lions, The Impossible drive, Lego, 2025
  • Silver PR Cannes Lion, Plastic Forecast for Minderoo Foundation 2024
  • SABRE Awards EMEA, Best Reputation Work - 500 Tonnes Light: Grand Prix winner 2023.[29]
  • Lynx Awards Grand Prix, Film, Grand Prix winner, Grand Prix - Film Craft, Grand Prix winner, Film Craft – Direction, Silver, Film – Script, Silver for As good as the original campaign and Film Craft - Use of Original Music, Loyalty, Bronze and World Cup, Bronze Film - Online Film campaign, 2023.[30]
  • LA Film Festival, Best Animation Short Tourism Australia - Come & Say G'Day, 2023.[31]
  • UK Sponsorship Awards: Women’s Sport Sponsorship Award, Heineken, Cheers to All Fans Winner, Brand Sponsorship, Heineken, Cheers to All Fans, Winner, Sponsorship of the Year, Heineken, Cheers to All Fans, Winner, UKSA Spotlight Award - drinks sector (no entries, picked by UKSA), Heineken, Cheers to All Fans, Winner, International Sponsorship Award, Heineken x F1 - When you Drive Never Drink 2022, Winner, Best social purpose, community or charity sponsorship, Barclays, It all starts with a chance, Winner, Sport Sponsorship, O2, Wear the rose, Winner, 2023.[32]
  • The One Show Social Media: Stunts & Activations Business Iceland Outhorse your email, Gold 2023.[33]
  • US Effies, Talk/SS+K, Travel & Tourism (Silver), Current Events (Silver) and small budget (Bronze) for Business Iceland Icelandverse campaign 2023.[34]
  • The ABBY Awards - Animation - Video Craft, U GRO Capital - FUND ISLAND (Gold), Special effects  U GRO Capital FUND ISLAND (Silver), Reliance Jewels, MAHALAYA: Celebrating Grace & Glory, (Silver) and Reliance Jewels, RANNKAAR (Bronze) 2023.[35]
  • The ANDY's - Craft Idea: Business Iceland - Outhorse your email, winner SS+K 2023.[36]
  • Effies Awards, Golds in: David vs. Goliath, Travel & Tourism and Small Budgets - Services, for 'Looks Like You Need to Let It Out' for Promote Iceland, 2021.[37]
  • PR Week Awards, Winner Global Integration, Looks Like You Need To Let it Out' for Promote Iceland, 2021.[38]
  • Fast Company World Changing Idea, 'The Street Store' for Haven Shelter, 2020.[39]
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References

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