M&C Saatchi has announced the appointment of Jill Manester as its head of strategy for Melbourne.

Manester worked for M&C Saatchi earlier in her career in both Sydney and London before taking on roles with The Campaign Palace, SapientNitro and most recently TBWA.

She has led the strategy behind award-winning work for clients including Lexus, Johnson & Johnson, RBS Group, France Telecom, Harrods, and Pernod Ricard.

In her most recent role at TBWA, Manester was instrumental in partnering with the new ANZ executive team to develop the brand’s customer strategy and customer value proposition.

In her new role, Manester will be reunited with Emma Hill, who was appointed as M&C Saatchi Melbourne’s executive creative director last month.

Justin Graham, chief strategy officer at M&C Saatchi Melbourne, said: “Meeting Jill, I was immediately struck by her curiosity and sheer excitement for advertising.

“I can’t wait to see her get stuck in leading our strategy offering in Melbourne as well as contributing to the broader strategic leadership team.”

Andy Cairns, managing director of M&C Saatchi Melbourne, added: “Jill is the kind of strategist our industry is crying out for right now; data-savvy, commercially astute, massively collaborative and, most important of all, a lover of great work.

“Her pedigree and category experience are as rare as hen’s teeth.”

Commenting on her appointment, Manester said: “M&C Saatchi is one of those rare agencies where creativity and commercial nous happily co-exist – along with a good dose of chutzpah and style. That makes it hard to shake.

“And now Emma’s there! Together we’ve produced some cracking strategic creative, but this time we’re doing it with Andy – an awesome, smart suit who also happens to make me laugh… a lot. It’s a good time to be going home.”