Anita Zanesco has linked back up with Dani Bassil at M+C Saatchi and will serve as its newly created chief marketing officer.
Zanesco had been Clemenger BBDO’s chief growth officer for just shy of two years, departing in May this year. Bassil had been Clems’ CEO since January 2023 but left following its significant restructure earlier this year.
Bassil officially got her feet under the desk at M+C this month. Justin Graham, M+C’s APAC CEO, is stepping down in November.
Zanesco has close to two decades of agency and marketing experience, with a unique combination of senior agency business management roles in Australia and London and over ten years with TrinityP3, running some of the biggest pitches in the country.
She will spearhead the growth strategy across ANZ, responsible for new clients and capabilities as well as working with the leadership team to supercharge existing clients, to make sure they are fully accessing the agency’s breadth of capabilities across advertising, PR, Social and Influence, Sports and Entertainment, Consulting and Production.
Bassil said: “Anita is rare. She brings a wealth of knowledge of our industry, but most importantly what clients need in an ever-changing marketing environment.
“Anita is part coach, part growth strategist, part client connector, her role will be entirely centred around strategic growth for M+C and I’m so happy she has agreed to join us on our mission moving forward.”
Zanesco added she was thrilled to join the agency: “I could not be more excited to be joining one of Australia’s most iconic agencies. Dani is a fearless and phenomenally smart and talented leader who also happens to be one of the kindest, most generous humans on the planet, so I didn’t hesitate when she asked me to join the global push to embed growth in key markets. M+C’s legacy is building enduring platforms for some of the country’s most loved and trusted brands and there is genuine passion to continue growing and creating world class ideas that are part of culture. It’s a great brief and I’m pumped.”
