M+C Saatchi reshapes sport leadership team

The changes are designed to support clients seeking globally coordinated campaigns backed by local market expertise

M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment has promoted Ross Watson to managing director for Sport UK and appointed Laura Coller as global chief operating officer, expanding the agency's leadership team as it strengthens its international operating model.

Laura Coller will continue as UK CEO while taking on the newly expanded global COO role. The changes are designed to support clients seeking globally coordinated campaigns backed by local market expertise across sponsorship, partnerships, PR and communications, social, creator marketing, experiential and content production.

Agency expands global leadership structure

The agency said the appointments support its ambition to operate as a more integrated global network, bringing together specialist expertise and delivery teams across its offices in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Laura Coller, UK CEO and global chief operating officer, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment: "At a time when global sport and entertainment properties are reaching unprecedented audience sizes, investment in sport continues to accelerate, and fan communities are increasingly interconnected, brands require agency partners that can think laterally while executing with deep local knowledge.

“Our clients recognise that culture transcends borders and that it is shared passions- not traditional demographics like age, gender or location- that unite audiences today.

“My goal is to operate as a more connected global business to provide clients with the very best of M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, wherever they are in the world, whilst maintaining the agility and entrepreneurial spirit that defines the culture of our agency."

Ross Watson takes UK sport leadership

Ross Watson has spent 12 years at the agency after joining as an account manager in 2014. He oversees a portfolio of sport clients including adidas, Heineken and Betway, and will now lead the day-to-day management of the UK sport business while continuing to report to Laura Coller.

Ross Watson, managing director, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment: "Sport has never been more culturally influential or commercially valuable, and brands that understand how to harness that cultural power are seeing extraordinary returns. Our agency has been at the forefront of some of the most creative and memorable campaigns in sport in recent times and the opportunity to continue shaping best-in-class work, and building the team to deliver it, is an exciting challenge."

Leadership changes take effect immediately

Robin Clarke, global CEO at M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment: "These appointments are about more than recognising two exceptional leaders, they are about stepping into the next stage in the evolution of our business. Ross will continue to strengthen our leadership in sport at a time of extraordinary market opportunity, while Laura has built an outstanding UK operation that has been central to strengthening our global position. Together, they position us to better serve clients in an increasingly global marketplace."

The appointments take effect immediately. They follow the agency's recent Agency of the Year win at the UK Sponsorship Awards, a series of client wins including Hugo Boss, Riot Games and Carlyle, and the launch of M+C Saatchi Social House, its dedicated social offering.

www.mcsaatchi.com

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