Justin Graham to step down as APAC CEO of M+C Saatchi Group
Justin Graham
M+C Saatchi Group has announced that APAC CEO Justin Graham will step down later this year. It has also named former Clemenger BBDO boss Dani Bassil as its new local CEO.
As part of a broader realignment, the Asia business will transition to being led from the Singapore HQ.
Graham has been with M+C Saatchi for 12 years, including six as group CSO Australia, before being promoted to the role of CEO AUNZ in 2020. In 2022, he was promoted to the global advertising lead role, before assuming his most recent role as APAC regional CEO.
Justin Graham
“It has been a privilege to lead the exceptional M+C Saatchi teams locally and around the network over my time; as a self-professed life learner, it’s been a ride,” he said in a media release on Thursday morning.
“I’m grateful to Zaid [Al-Qassab], and all the brilliant people I have been fortunate to partner with over the years; my immediate focus is to set up Australia and the key markets in the region for ongoing success.”
Zaid Al-Qassab, CEO of M+C Saatchi Group said in the release: “Justin has been a brilliant partner, and whilst I will miss working with him, I am grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.
“At M+C Saatchi Group, we are committed to our leaders and long-term succession planning. As such, over the last few months, Justin and I have been working closely to identify the best leadership succession for key markets in the APAC region, and in particular our Australian and New Zealand businesses.”
Al-Qassab and Graham were interviewed together by Mumbrella earlier this year as part of M+C’s repositioning around “cultural power”.
Graham will remain in his Sydney-based role until August, to help guide the handover to Bassil, who will step into the CEO AUNZ role.
Most recently, she was CEO of Clemenger BBDO Australia. She departed earlier this year amid the agency’s restructure and absorption of stablemates Chep Network and Traffik.
Prior experience also includes Digitas UK, JWT UK, Grey, W+K, VCCP, and Mother.
“I’ve admired the M+C Saatchi brand for as long as I can remember. To be able to bring all of my experience in brand, consulting, media and digital together to lead this group of incredible businesses is so exciting for me,” she said in the release.
“How we drive value and growth for clients through strategic thinking and cut through with powerful creative and brand ideas is what I get out of bed for, and there’s no better agency brand than M+C Saatchi to partner with clients to achieve this. I can’t wait to get started.”
M+C Saatchi’s local leadership team of Steve Coll, Tanya Vragalis, Jenn Butler, Benjamin Harrison and Jen Hegarty will report to Bassil.
Her appointment follows the departure of Michael McEwan, current CEO AUNZ. McEwan announced his move to Droga5 Melbourne last week, where he will be director of Melbourne.
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Interesting space to watch.