‘Hutch’, his wife Patty and pooch Penny will return to the UK two years after he took the helm of M&C Saatchi’s media agency.
Bohemia chief executive Paul Hutchison has left the agency almost two years after picking up the baton.
The West Ham United supporter and outdoor enthusiast helped stabilise the business and reboot its culture during his two-year stint.
On LinkedIn, he said: “Almost 2 years to the day since we left the UK for our Australian Adventure, Patty, Penny and I will be returning to the UK. It’s been a wonderful experience and one we will cherish forever in a country of outstanding natural beauty. All three of us feel extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to experience life in Australia.
“We leave full up with wonderful new memories, new lifelong friends and many learning experiences.
“All three of us are excited by what’s ahead when we return to the UK, more of that to come very soon. But for now it’s just a massive thank you to everyone we have met who has helped us settle into life in Australia and made this Australian Adventure and experience one we will never forget.”
M&C Saatchi confirmed the move and said they are on the hunt for Hutchison’s successor.
After careful consideration, Paul Hutchison has made the personal decision to return to the UK. “Paul has been a valued member of the Bohemia and M&C Saatchi family, contributing significantly during his time with us,” a spokesperson said.
“We respect his decision and are grateful for his passion and dedication. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Rebooting Boho
Hutchison joined M&C Saatchi Group two years ago, having previously led large British agencies including Wavemaker, MEC and Vizeum. He is a former colleague and friend of Foxtel Media boss Mark Frain, who he previously worked with in the UK.
Hutch was tasked with rebuilding an agency that was once the hottest indie in town but had fallen on more challenging times towards the end of founder Brett Dawson’s era.
Bohemia’s problem was that it grew too quickly, picking up the likes of Lion, Vodafone, Quick Service Restaurants and Caltex, among others, but was unable to service them adequately and lost a lot of them quickly.
Hutchison came in on a remit to shake things up, overhaul the agency’s culture and position Bohemia as an outfit that can move people through ‘handcrafted memorable media’.
In 2023, this strategy was successful, winning seven out of the ten accounts it pitched for, including the Australian Retirement Trust (a multi-million media billings account), multinational energy management company Schneider Electric and New Zealand’s largest retirement living provider Ryman Healthcare. Recently, the agency won Fever Tree and SXSW Sydney.
The agency also recorded its “highest ever” TRR (The Referral Rating) score of 8.2 out of 10, which measures client satisfaction levels.
This year, Hutchison told B&T the agency’s focus was on client service and innovative work, such as evolving media plans and strategies as consumers shift away from linear TV to a multitude of devices and platforms.
Hutchison has laid solid foundations for Boho’s reboot for a successor to build upon.
