A former M+C Saatchi Group strategy director has joined Spark Foundry Australia, taking on a strategy leadership role across PepsiCo following the impending closure of M+C Saatchi’s Australian and New Zealand advertising operations.
Sophie Gallagher announced the move on LinkedIn, revealing she had joined the Publicis Media agency to lead strategy across PepsiCo, working alongside Spark Foundry’s Caroline Hugall.
“I’m beyond excited to have joined Spark Foundry Australia, leading strategy across PepsiCo as part of Publicis PLUS+ with the incredible Caroline Hugall,” Gallagher wrote.
“A dream team making brilliant work – I am so happy and grateful to be part of it.”
The move follows her departure from M+C Saatchi Group AUNZ, where she spent 11 months as group strategy director, having joined the agency in January 2026.
During her tenure, she led strategy across Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Youi, Omoda Jaecoo and Origin Energy, while also establishing M+C Saatchi AUNZ’s Connections Strategy discipline, designed to bring its creative and media capabilities closer together.
Her work with Lifeblood also earned industry recognition, including two Silver and one Bronze at the 2026 Effie Awards, a Grand Prix and two further wins at the MFA Awards, and an Audio & Radio shortlist at Cannes Lions.
Her appointment comes as M+C Saatchi winds down its Australian and New Zealand advertising agency operations, bringing an end to its 30-year presence in the region.
The closure follows the collapse of a proposed management buyout backed by investment firm Parc, after the parties were unable to reach terms acceptable to all stakeholders.
The agency confirmed in September that the buyout would not proceed, with its local advertising operations subsequently set to close by November 2026. M+C Saatchi World Services, its government services and behaviour change agency, is unaffected.
The closure has prompted a period of change across the local advertising industry, as agency talent and client relationships find new homes.
Gallagher was a finalist in 2026 and 2025 for the B&T Women in Media Awards for Strategy and was named as “one to watch for the future” in B&T’s Best of the Best Media Agency Strategy Chiefs list.
