M&C Saatchi Celebrates 25 Years of Tom McFarlane

Last week M&C Saatchi celebrated a quarter century of one of Australian advertising’s most influential and effective creative leaders. His contribution to M&C Saatchi cannot be overstated; he created the brand in the Australian market and has been responsible for what remains some of the agency’s biggest clients and most famous work. 

McFarlane’s approach has always been big ideas that will genuinely help grow clients’ businesses. His work has cut through the age of media disruption with longstanding brand platforms such as 100% Pure New Zealand, NRMADE better, CAN for Commbank and, globally, the Flying Reimagined platform for Etihad. His portfolio contains some of Australia’s most iconic ads.

His contribution to Woolworths is perhaps most noteworthy. It’s common knowledge that in 2015 McFarlane was considering leaving M&C Saatchi. Instead he was instrumental in winning Woolworths back after a four year absence, having previously held the account in the decade from 2002-2012. He partnered with Woolworths to create the Greenhouse model in which over the past 5 years has produced work that has helped shape the fortunes of what is now Australia’s most trusted and valuable brand.