Australia & New Zealand — M&C Saatchi Group ANZ has announced the appointment of Simon Wassef as Group Chief Strategy Officer, a newly created role designed to strengthen the agency’s strategic leadership across Australia and New Zealand. The appointment completes the Group’s regional leadership lineup under Chief Executive Officer Dani Bassil.
Wassef joins M&C Saatchi Group ANZ after stepping down from his role as Chief Strategy and Experience Officer at Clemenger BBDO, where he spent the last two years driving strategic transformation and experience-led creativity.
With a career spanning markets including Australia, Europe, the UK, and the US, Wassef brings extensive global experience across brand, experience, and innovation. His appointment reinforces M&C Saatchi’s Cultural Power proposition, which focuses on building brands that thrive at the intersection of creativity, culture, and strategy.
A Grand Effie winner and recipient of the AFR Most Innovative Companies Award, Wassef has held senior strategic leadership roles at some of the world’s most renowned creative agencies including AKQA London and Sydney, TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles, Droga5 Sydney, and R/GA London. He also actively contributes to the industry as a member of the ACA’s CREATE SPACE steering committee and teaches AdSchool’s Advanced Strategy program.
Wassef’s appointment marks a key milestone for M&C Saatchi Group ANZ as the agency continues strengthening its strategic capability, creative excellence, and innovation-led approach across the region.
“I build teams and capabilities for modern businesses who want to win,” said Simon Wassef, M+C Saatchi Group ANZ CSO. “M+C is the best place to build: grown up, in control of its destiny and 100% focused on client success. And Dani and Emma are the best people to build with. I’m really excited.”
Dani Bassil, M+C Saatchi Group ANZ CEO added: “I’m thrilled to have Simon join us. He brings a rare mix of intelligence, empathy and creative drive that will add so much to our leadership team and our clients’ businesses.”
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