M&C Saatchi Abel opens for business

Mike Abel

"I'm thrilled to announce the core opening team of the new agency. It is a group of people that have been carefully hand-picked by me and our local and international partners in establishing what we hope to be, South Africa's next great agency," said Moray MacLennan, worldwide CEO of M&C Saatchi, today, Tuesday 2 February.

"A world-class agency with a single focus - to grow our clients' market shares through brilliant work. Nothing is more important to us and we will use the best people, the best thinking, the best strategies and technologies to achieve that."

Said Lord Saatchi, "We think that South Africa is at an exciting point in its history and I have confidence that our agency there will be of the highest calibre, not just locally, but beyond its borders".

Founding partners

The founding partners include Mike Abel as chief executive partner, Badenhorst as chief creative partner, Davids as managing partner: digital, direct & data; and Van der Westhuizen as chief operating partner. Mavumangwane joins as creative director, design and Winkler as creative director for digital, direct & mobile.

States Van der Westhuizen, "The last thing we wanted was an agency where clients were victims of the juniorisation of the industry, where those attending the daily meetings could not deliver the requisite expertise. We have therefore built a broad team of very experienced marketers and advertisers and simultaneously hired some of the country's best graduate talent that we can nurture and grow. Usually it is either or. We have invested in both".

Abel was most recently CEO of M&C Saatchi Group, Australia, and before that, COO of Ogilvy South Africa. Well-known in the marketing and communications industry, Abel played a key role in growing the Australian division over the past year and prior to that was a key executive at Ogilvy South Africa, growing numerous companies in that group, which earned him the Agency Leader in South Africa award in 2006, by the Financial Mail.

Abel has led some of South Africa's most prized and successful accounts, including Volkswagen South Africa, BP, Old Mutual and numerous other coveted brands and categories.

Industry heavy-weight Badenhorst has both a formidable and enviable track record, which includes being joint executive creative director of Ogilvy Johannesburg for over 10 years and, more recently, over the past four years, chief creative officer of Ogilvy One and Interactive.

“Leadership credentials”

Badenhorst is well-known for his work in the financial services industry, including Nedbank and a highly valued contribution to SAB Miller brands, as well as in automotive (Volkswagen / Audi), retail, telecoms and FMCG.

"Peter has impeccable creative leadership credentials spanning both new media and traditional," said MacLennan. "We were massively impressed with his portfolio of work and the clear demonstration he showed in solving complex communications problems for clients and more importantly, in growing their business".

Another returnee

Davids is another returnee from Australia, having spent the past 14 years living in Australia. Most recently Davids was Delloitte's leader of digital marketing and CRM, based in Sydney, responsible for leading the development and implementation of digital marketing strategy.

"When I read about Mike heading back to South Africa to establish M&C Saatchi there, I contacted him and we connected immediately. I believe there is massive untapped potential in SA and I'm thrilled to bring my skills back to both SA and Africa," comments Davids.

He is well-known in the Australian digital market for having successfully listed a digital media company and then spent time at Saatchi & Saatchi working with its blue-chip client bases. Prior to Delloite, he was head of CRM & digital at Toyota Australia's Lexus division, the premium brand of the country's largest seller of cars.

Van der Westhuizen, together with Badenhorst and Abel, was a very senior Ogilvy executive and holding board director for over a decade. She is perhaps best known for her key role in repositioning Old Mutual in the early 90s and having run that business, as well as Mweb, securing Castrol's international account, all with outstanding creative and business success, until she left Ogilvy just over a year ago.

"Denise has been a trusted friend and partner of mine for many years" says Abel. "She is the consummate professional. I have seen her successfully handle some of the largest and complex accounts in South Africa. Also, she has consistently built and grown teams around her that are capable of delivering exceptional depth, understanding and value to their client's business.

“Brightest and relevant”

Vumile has spent time at The Jupiter Drawing Room, Ogilvy and Joe Public.

"Vums is one of South Africa's brightest and relevant design talents," says Badenhorst of Mavumangwane. "I have watched his career over the years and always knew that I would want him to head design for my agency one day".

Joining Mavumangwane as a further creative director is Winkler. "Mark is our creative head of digital, direct and mobile." says Badenhorst. "Over the past eight years, he has immersed himself in these channels and, following his multi-Cannes award-winning years in above-the-line, it is a formidable combination of competencies."

For more, go to www.mcsaatchiabel.co.za.