M+C Saatchi Australia reported a 31.9 per cent revenue decline in 2025 after the closure of media arm Bohemia and the loss of its telco client Optus.
The global advertising group blamed the “significant Australia drag” and US Government shutdown for 7.3 per cent revenue drop in worldwide revenues.
In an investor presentation, M+C Saatchi said that Australia’s decline was down to “prolonged tough macro challenges, client caution and reduced spend with consumer-facing clients, client losses”.
In June, B&T revealed that M+C Saatchi had closed down its offline media buying business, Bohemia, and largely offshored its performance media arm to M+C Saatchi Performance business, which is headquartered in Singapore.
Bohemia’s clients at that time included the Australian Retirement Trust, Schneider Electric, Ryman Healthcare and Fever-Tree.
Just as significant was the loss of one of M+C Saatchi’s largest clients, Optus, which moved to Droga5 (along with former CEO Michael McEwan).
Aside from McEwan, long-serving boss and APAC leader Justin Graham stepped down, while former Clemenger BBDO boss Dani Bassil was hired to stabilise the ship.
Bassil has carefully rebuilt M+C Saatchi’s leadership team, bringing over former Clems colleagues Simon Wassef (as group strategy chief), Anita Zanesco (as CMO) and Sophie Gallagher (as group strategy director).
The company has also downsized its Sydney office, leaving its swanky Macquarie place building for new digs at Martin Place.
“Yes, we had a challenging year in 2025 with the loss of Optus and the sunset of Bohemia prior to my arrival,” Bassil said about the agency’s year.
“However, we have invested in a new leadership team with myself, Anita Zanesco and Simon Wassef coming into the agency to reinvigorate this incredible brand and move it into the future.
“We have attracted exceptional talent across the board, setting up a new Connections Strategy unit led by Sophie Gallagher, a new leader for our Passions and PR team Rhian Mason. We are very excited to have recently welcomed Head of Partnerships Jack Playfair to take Sport & Entertainment into its new era.
Bassil said that M+C Saatchi has invested heavily in AI and tech, with 20 AI tools “making what we do faster and smarter”.
“But most importantly,” she added, “we are attracting the industry’s best talent into this storied agency and we’re having a brilliant time working towards new growth and incredible work.”
