Saatchi & Saatchi Australia has promoted Toby Aldred to the role of Managing Director in a reshaping of the agency by recently installed CEO, Pat Rowe.

His promotion also follows the recent appointment of Mandie van der Merwe and Avish Gordhan as Chief Creative Officers.

Aldred, who has been with the agency for a decade, will continue to serve as Chief Client Officer for The Neighbourhood, a connected platform of Publicis Groupe that collaborates with The Arnott’s Group.

"Having had the pleasure of personally hiring Toby a decade ago at a pub in London, it’s fantastic to see his career continue to flourish at Saatchis and Publicis Groupe – leading the Arnott’s client team, and now taking on the new role of Saatchis Australia Managing Director," Publicis Groupe ANZ MD, Mike Rebelo said. "I couldn’t think of a more people and client-focused leader and all-around good human to help drive the continued growth of the agency."

Aldred recently led The Neighbourhood team, which includes Saatchi & Saatchi, Spark Foundry, Arc and Herd MSL, to the 2023 Grand Effie Award. Rowe described Aldred as "the heart and soul of Saatchi & Saatchi".

"Toby deserves this recognition for his tireless efforts working with clients, supporting teams and keeping the agency running smoothly. And he’s a good person to boot," Rowe said. "This promotion is well deserved, and I hope he will be part of our Saatchi family for many years to come."

Expressing his excitement about the promotion, Aldred said he is looking forward to guiding the Saatchi legacy and building The Neighbourhood platform.

"Saatchi & Saatchi is one of the most famous names in advertising; its legacy is inspiring; who wouldn’t want to help write the next chapter?" he said. "We have great client partners who want our help growing their businesses by connecting with Australians, and we have some of the smartest and nicest people in the industry working for us. If that doesn’t get you out of bed in the morning, what will?"

This leadership reshuffle at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia is significant for the industry, signalling a renewed focus on client and people-centric leadership. With Aldred at the helm, the agency is poised to continue its legacy of creative excellence while building on its client relationships and partnerships.