There was some big news coming out of M&C Saatchi yesterday. Firstly, Public Health England (PHE) awarded its consumer engagement PR brief to the agency, with Freuds, which currently holds the contract, but was unable to pitch directly, as a sub-contractor. The work will include PR work on PHE's key social media marketing themes; Starting Well, Living Well and Ageing Well, with individual campaigns such as “Be Clear On Cancer,” “Smokefree,” and “Change4Life,” which is aimed at younger children and recently spearheaded a successful campaign in partnership with Disney called the “10 Minute Shake Up.”
Public Health England (PHE) awarded its consumer engagement PR brief to the agency, with Freuds as a sub-contractor
The pitch was open to all agencies on the “Lot 1” roster of integrated creative agencies on the Government Procurement Service Framework, including AMV BBDO, DLKW Lowe, Engine, Enter, Inferno, Kindred, McCann London, RKCR/Y&R and Ogilvy & Mather. Freuds, who failed to land a place on the roster last year, were unable to pitch, but M&C Saatchi decided to keep Freuds in the loop as a sub-contractor. The new two year contract (with an option for a further year's renewal) will see M&C Saatchi lead on the pitch and Freuds leading on the delivery.
Change4Life Trailer
On the other-side of the world, meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that M&C Saatchi world wide chairman Tom Dery will be relocating from Sydney to Boston to fill the two-fold role of both chairman and fellow of the advanced leadership initiative at Harvard University. He is making the move, not only to be closer to the US, UK and European markets, but to take his place at Harvard as one of only 30 fellows chosen globally from the vast ranks of senior executives. His time will be spent equally between in roles at Harvard and M&C Saatchi. Dery founded M&C Saatchi Australia in 1995, shortly after the first office was set up by the founding brothers. According to a press release, “He has been an instrumental force in growing the agency from his base in Sydney.”
Left: James Leggett, Right: Tom Dery
M&C Saatchi world wide chairman Tom Dery will be relocating from Sydney to Boston to fill the roles of both chairman and fellow of the advanced leadership initiative at Harvard
Dery was notably modest about the move, stating that “Nothing changes too much really,” just that he will fulfil his role with M&C Saatchi “From a different part of the word, with the exciting challenge of the Harvard opportunity thrown in.” He added that both himself and regional creative chairman Tom McFarlane, “Are very pleased with the progress Jaimes Leggett is making after 18 months as M&C Saatchi Australia CEO,” and that he feels Leggett has made “Great strides” in building “A new management team” to position the agency strongly for the future. He will remain “Very much in touch” with Leggett and the rest of the leadership group and expects to make the trip back to Sydney at least two or three times a year.
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and musician from Kidderminster in the UK.
