M&C Saatchi has announced the appointment of Andy Cairns to the managing director role of the Melbourne agency. Cairns brings to the role over 20 years of international agency and brand experience.
Group MD Russell Hopson said: “I’ve watched Andy’s career with admiration for many years. He has a proven track record of galvanising agencies into doing great work for clients. And he does it with a sense of fun and decency that’s contagious. I couldn’t be happier that he’s joining the M&C Saatchi family.”
Cairns said: “The momentum behind M&C Saatchi at the moment is massive. Hires like Cam and Russell are game changers. The opportunity to return to my home town and drive that agenda here makes this the dream job for me.”
Cairns began his advertising career in Melbourne in 1994 and since then it has taken him around the world and back. He had a significant stint in London working for major agencies including TBWA, CHI and BBH.
Before returning home in September of this year, Cairns was global brands director for Havas, responsible for the company’s largest client Reckitt Benckiser, as well as the Huawei account.
At BBH, he was responsible for the Barclays Retail banking business. While there, he led the major re- positioning of the Bank in the wake of the global financial crisis. Cairns was also responsible for leading the Virgin Media account and driving multiple integrated campaigns in a highly competitive category.
Prior to this, Cairns held the role of managing director at Inferno and helped build it into one of London’s most successful independents. He also spent a few years in New York heading up hot shop Taxi.
Cairns will head up the agency alongside executive creative director, Paul Taylor. He will report into Russell Hopson. Cairns will commence his role this month