Sophie Price departs UM to become M&C Saatchi’s group head of strategy
UM’s chief strategy officer Sophie Price will join M&C Saatchi as the agency’s new group head of strategy.
The appointment forms part of M&C Saatchi’s bid to “become Australia’s most influential creative company by 2020”.
Price became UM’s head of strategy in 2005, before she left to join the creative side in 2007 working across The Campaign Palace, Happy Soldiers, The Monkeys and The Hallway, before rejoining UM in 2015.
In her new role, Price will report to M&C Saatchi’s chief strategy officer Justin Graham and “will support the leadership teams across the advertising, communications and production businesses”, a statement from the agency said.
Graham said in addition to assisting the group reach its aim of being Australia’s most influential creative company within three years, Price would help M&C Saatchi think differently about strategy.
“I’ve known Sophie for a long time and have always admired her ability to engineer great work,” he said. “In recent years, Sophie has relished the opportunity to productise the strategic offering, a critical skill that will help us thrive among the changing competitive dynamics of the industry.
“As we continue to run toward our amibition of ‘becoming Australia’s most inflienctial creatitve company by 2020’, Sophie is a key hire in helping is think differently about the changing role of strategy. Her diverse background and experience in leading integrated teams makes her a perfect fit for our growing capabilities across the group, in particular the recent addition of Bohemia.”
When M&C Saatchi announced the purchase of Bohemia in February this year – a move which would give the creative agency a foothold in the media space – Jaimes Leggett, M&C Saatchi Group CEO said every business in every market was being disrupted, and marrying the two capabilities was the next evolutionary step.
“Bringing media into the group is the next step in our evolution. With Bohemia in the family, we will have the capability to marry content with context for more influential communications. Driving creative probability through increased media precision,” he said at the time.
“M&C Saatchi is a confederation of creative entrepreneurs. With best-in-class capabilities, designed to connect with a consumer at every point they encounter a brand. We chose Bohemia for their rebellious spirit and desire to be transformative and transparent. They’re a great bunch of people, too.”
Of her appointment, Price said: “I am excited to be part of this incredible group, and to lead a team that have the breadth and depth of capabilities to create connected brand experiences for our clients.”
Congratulations Soph! They are very lucky to have you. Good hire M&C.
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Congrats Soph! Great hire M&C – she’s one of the best.
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Great hire. Tough week for UM..
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Unreal! Congratulation Sophie!
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Congratulations, Sophie. What a great move.
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I’ve worked with Sophie and I know she will create magic there. Congratulations.
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congratulations and best wishes for huge success Sophie
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