Jack Playfair has joined M+C Saatchi in the newly created role of head of partnerships, as the agency looks to deepen its Sport & Entertainment offering and accelerate its focus on culturally-led brand solutions.
Playfair arrives from Bastion, where he spent three years leading integrated partnerships and brand collaborations for clients including Gatorade, TAB, Kia, SIXT, Crown and V Energy.
Prior to Bastion, he held commercial roles at Supercars, TLA Worldwide and Rugby Australia, working across major sporting platforms including the AFL, NRL, UFC, cricket and Formula 1.
In his new role, Playfair will lead the development and execution of strategic partnerships across Sport & Entertainment, focusing on securing collaborations across brands, rights holders and talent to deliver both earned attention and commercial outcomes.
Dani Bassil said the appointment marks an important step for the agency’s partnerships proposition.
“Jack’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for our Sport & Entertainment offering. He has the experience and ability to transform partnerships into genuine growth engines for clients,” Bassil said.
“He brings a rare combination of commercial acumen and instinct, exactly what’s needed as we shift from traditional sponsorship models to participation-led partnerships that create real impact.”
Playfair will work closely with the agency’s PR, social, influencer and content teams, overseeing the full partnership lifecycle from strategy and negotiation through to activation and amplification.
“I’m thrilled to be joining M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment at such an exciting time of momentum and ambition,” Playfair said.
“My career has been built on forging partnerships that drive real business outcomes, and I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to help unlock the next phase of growth here.”
The move signals M+C Saatchi’s continued focus on helping brands move from passive presence to active participation in culture, with partnerships playing a central role in delivering growth across its client base.
