M+C Saatchi has signed heads of terms for a management buyout of its business in Australia and New Zealand with completion expected on 1 October 2026.
The leadership team led by Dani Bassil (CEO), includes Simon Wassef (chief strategy officer), Jeremy Hogg (executive creative director), Anita Zanesco (chief client officer), Remi Couzelas (managing director, Re) and Jack Playfair (head of Sport and Entertainment).
The agency said the move marks “the beginning of a new chapter” for its Australia and New Zealand business.
It added the change will provide agile, locally-led decision making and the “ability to invest directly in growth, talent and the accelerated capabilities in customer experience, connected communications, AI and automation clients need”.
The business will continue to offer capabilities spanning brand, creative, consulting, customer experience, design, sport and entertainment.
The move marks a return to local ownership for M+C Saatchi. Tom Dery and Tom McFarlane founded the Australian arm of the agency group in 1995.
Dani Bassil, CEO, of M+C Saatchi ANZ, said:
“This is an exciting moment for our business, clients and partners. We have outstanding client relationships and a team of exceptional creative talent across Australia and New Zealand. The transaction will allow the locally-led management team to focus entirely on the opportunities in front of us and to shape our future with speed and ambition.”
Dame Heather Rabbatts, executive chair of M+C Saatchi plc, said:
“I am delighted that the business in Australia and New Zealand will begin a new chapter as we continue to simplify our operational structure. This proposed transaction is intended to provide the best platform for our clients in the region, while enabling the M+C Saatchi brand to remain present in the market. I would like to thank our teams across Australia and New Zealand and wish them every success for the future.”
The management buyout is supported by VC firm Parc. It said it shares the leadership team’s long-term vision for building a modern, independent creative, design and sports business across ANZ.
Parc said their investment reflects their strong confidence in both the Australian market and the future of independent, entrepreneur-led agency models.
Adam Pozniak, co-founder of Parc says “We’re delighted to back Dani and the leadership team in this next chapter. M+C Saatchi Group ANZ have built a genuinely differentiated offer in the region, and we see significant opportunity to support their growth ambitions, both organically and through further investment. This is exactly the kind of founder and management led opportunity Parc was set up to support”.
Following the completion of the transaction, the business will continue to operate under its existing brands and leadership structure, with no disruption to clients. The transaction is subject to usual conditions and consents.
M+C Saatchi’s business in Australia and New Zealand has been undergoing some hard times. Last year, it nixed its offline media buying capability through sub-brand Bohemia and largely offshored its M+C Saatchi performance arm.
It has also lost a succession of important accounts Tourism Australia, CommBank, Optus and Woolies. Though it declined to pitch for the latter.
M+C Australia reported a 31.9 per cent revenue decline in 2025. The global advertising group blamed the “significant Australia drag” and US Government shutdown for 7.3 per cent revenue drop in worldwide revenues.
More to come.
