Rob Doubal & Laurence Thomson as Global CCOs

Campaign, rob doubal, byng thorne, blazer, creative network, M&C Saatchi, McCann, creative, CCO, chief creative officer, Rob Doubal, Laurence Thomson, McCann London, Weiden & Kennedy, Mother London, advertising, Xbox, Just Eat, Microsoft, Aldi, Sky, Campaign, Cannes Lions, imaginative, growth, senior management,

Rob Doubal and Laurence “Lolly” Thomson, co-presidents of McCann London and chief creative officers of McCann UK, were named M&C Saatchi’s new joint global chief creative officers (CCOs). As it implements its new operating model, M&C Saatchi said the newly created roles will serve as “a central focal point for the group’s creative ambitions and activities.”

M&C Saatchi Appoints Rob Doubal and Laurence Thomson as joint global CCOs

Doubal and Thomson are referred to as “Rob and Lolly” in the industry. They were executive creative directors at Weiden & Kennedy London when they joined McCann London in 2012. In 2019, they were promoted to regional CCOs for the UK. The two met and worked together for four years at Mother London before joining Weiden & Kennedy. It stated that the newly established position was essential to M&C Saatchi’s implementation of its new operating model. It aims to act as a focal point for the group’s creative goals and pursuits. M&C Saatchi was referred to as “an agency with one of the most famous names in advertising history and a legacy of creative brilliance” by Doubal & Thomson, who will begin their new roles later this year.

Rob and Lolly’s distinguished feats

They have created campaigns for companies like Xbox, Just Eat, Microsoft, Aldi, and Sky over the past 20 years. They have managed work that has taken home more than 800 awards from prestigious international exhibitions and over 100 Cannes Lions. According to Simon Gwynn of Campaign, Rob and Lolly “give the impression of guys who have spent plenty of time trying to make each other laugh over the years,” and they acknowledge that they are responsible for promoting a lighthearted and imaginative culture.

At the end of 2023, Doubal and Thomson came in at number 11 on Campaign’s yearly list of the best UK creatives in the list. Since informing investors in September that it was essential to growth, Byng-Thorne has been seeking to establish a new chief creative officer position for the entire group. Under the direction of Daryl Lee, the global chief executive of McCann Worldgroup, McCann has also been reorganizing its own senior management team. Last year, Javier Campopiano was hired as the global chief creative officer. Furthermore, Regan Warner as executive creative director at McCann London.

Here’s what they said

Rob and Lolly said,

“We couldn’t be more delighted to be joining M&C Saatchi as global CCOs. It’s an agency with one the most famous names in advertising history and a legacy of creative brilliance. A truly iconic brand with some fantastic offices around the world. Driving fame and commerce by leveraging art and creativity is what we love to do and joining the new team with a shared ambition to make M&C Saatchi a global powerhouse with creativity at its core got us very excited. Given the speed of change in our industry, harnessing M&C Saatchi’s ‘brutal simplicity of thought’ philosophy with Zaid and the teams was an opportunity we simply couldn’t turn down. We can’t wait to get started. A truly iconic brand with some fantastic offices around the world. Driving fame and commerce by leveraging art and creativity is what we love to do and joining the new team with a shared ambition to make M&C Saatchi a global powerhouse with creativity at its core got us very excited.”

Executive chair Zillah Byng-Thorne said of the pair,

“Their creative vision combines with a passion for doing the best for clients, and I expect them to make a huge cultural impact on all parts of the M&C Saatchi Group, which will produce world-class creativity and business results.”

Zaid Al-Qassab, the incoming group chief executive, added,

“I was wowed by Rob and Lolly’s passion for innovation and commitment to creative excellence throughout the recruitment process. Their unique way of looking at the world, and track record of success with iconic and category disrupting campaigns, will undoubtedly drive transformative results for our clients.

Author Profile

Netra: Netra is a Dual Masters graduate in International Business and Marketing. She is a content-writing enthusiast and a social media addict. In her downtime, you will find her headbanging to Pop songs from around the world. She is also a sports fanatic and especially loves F1, Volleyball, and Cricket. Her hobbies are baking and watching Anime.