M&C Saatchi Talk Announces Three New Hires

As it now enjoys its one-year anniversary since official launch, M&C Saatchi Talk is also celebrating incredible talent growth after a fantastic first quarter. Coming on board to bolster the strategic and creative talent within the business are newly appointed Board member Alex Michael, in a new role as the agency’s Head of Growth and creative duo, Victoria D’Andrea and Marta Morientes. 

A year on - the new chapter in making meaningful change

In line with M&C Saatchi Group’s new strategy, revealed on Capital Markets Day earlier this year, enabling clients 'to navigate, create and lead meaningful change', M&C Saatchi Talk echoes this vision in its own agency direction through 'creating the conversations' that make this meaningful change. 

The direction has entailed an evolution of the business and with its expanding sector expertise and increasing number of business opportunities faced, as reported in PR Week’s Top 150 UK Consultancies 2021 on 20th April, the M&C Saatchi Talk Board now welcomes a new member to join in driving the agency forwards in its new chapter. 

Navigating growth 

As Head of Growth, Alex will be responsible for leading the agency’s business development and commercial strategy, joining Head of Strategy & Creative, Will Cooke in driving the agency’s proposition, process, and practice. 

With a passion for genuine human and cultural insight, Alex brings 18 years of multi disciplinary experience, helping world-famous brands create effective and award winning work. His integrated background and idea-first perspective help him approach client challenges from multiple angles, working with teams to create solutions which travel, earn attention across channels, and incite conversation. 

He joins the agency having previously sat on the leadership team at Golin London, and his extensive sector experience has also seen him lead key client business at VCCP Kin and HeyHuman. With brands spanning finance and insurance through to youth oriented FMCG, previous clients include Dove, Coca-Cola, Danone, Kia, MoreTh>n, Orange, LNER and PG Tips.

Alex says, “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining an agency with such a great array of clients, capabilities and network strengths. It’s a really exciting time to be here and  I’m looking forward to working with a team of hugely talented people who are passionate about, and capable of, creating work that really ignites conversation.” 

Fresh creative firepower 

Creative pair Victoria D’Andrea and Marta Morientes are D&AD New Blood winners and Campaign 2020 Star Players, bringing great experience from a varied roster of advertising and communications agencies with fresh perspective that combined, have resulted in attention-grabbing work for Which?, River Island, Morrisons and  lastminute.com. 

Will Cooke, Head of Strategy & Creative shares the importance of having Alex, Victoria and Marta join M&C Saatchi Talk at this crucial time in its evolution: “We’re also very fortunate to have creatively ambitious clients, so we’re always on the hunt for fresh perspective to spark the ideas that are seen, shared and talked about. Alex brings an integrated mindset that ensures effectiveness and impact in our work,  while V&M have a remarkable energy and lateral creativity that keeps everyone on their toes.” 

M&C Saatchi Talk COO, Ryan Woor highlights the great progress made as the agency turns one, “After a very successful first year of trading despite the economic and logistical challenges caused by the pandemic, it’s now time to supercharge growth and I am delighted to have Alex on board leading this for us. As both our agency and client list grow and evolve, we are also investing in strategic, creative talent and I am excited to also welcome Vic and Marta to M&C Saatchi Talk.” 

He adds, “It’s encouraging to see new clients recognising both the independent spirit we offer at the agency, combined with our capabilities backed by our independent global network, SERMO and M&C Saatchi Group resources such as the insights and intelligence team, M&C Saatchi Fluency”.