M&C Saatchi CEO Steps Down; APAC Clients Face Leadership Transition
M&C Saatchi's global CEO exits after restructuring the agency into five regions, with APAC now a strategic pillar. The incoming leader will directly shape the region's resources and growth priorities.
Zaid Al-Qassab will step down as global CEO of M&C Saatchi on March 31, 2026, by mutual agreement with the board, according to a filing on the London Stock Exchange. The company has initiated a formal search for his successor.
Board Moves to Stabilize Leadership During CEO Search
Non-Executive Chair Dame Heather Rabbatts will assume the role of Executive Chair and lead an operating board of senior leaders while the CEO search proceeds.
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The board also made two immediate appointments. Vinodka Murria, a long-term shareholder and former company director, joins as Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair. Nicholas Shott, who brings more than 30 years of financial services experience including senior roles at Lazard, joins as Independent Non-Executive Director.
"He leaves the company with a strong and more integrated operating model, creating Cultural Power for our clients by combining world-leading creativity, global reach, and specialist capabilities," Rabbatts said of Al-Qassab's departure. A US$4.5 million share buyback was announced alongside the news, and the company's share price reportedly rose following the announcement.
APAC Is One of Five Strategic Regions Now Under Scrutiny
Al-Qassab joined M&C Saatchi in 2023 and spent less than two years as CEO. During that time, he restructured the company from more than 40 independent business units into five connected regions: UK, Europe, Middle East, APAC, and Americas.
Asia-Pacific is now one of those five formal regional pillars. That means the incoming CEO will directly influence how the APAC region is resourced, prioritized, and led within the group's overall growth plan.
The restructuring delivered US$15.2 million in annualized cost savings. However, M&C Saatchi reported a 7% like-for-like revenue decline in 2025, with net revenue expected at approximately US$266 million and operating profit at approximately US$33 million for the latest reporting year.
Al-Qassab also oversaw the company's first mergers and acquisitions in seven years, successfully integrating two acquired businesses. He launched the "Cultural Power" proposition group-wide, including across APAC, combining creative work, global reach, and specialist services.
Regional Talent Investment Continues Despite Global Transition
In January 2026, M&C Saatchi Malaysia appointed Darren Lee as Chief Creative Officer. Lee brings more than two decades of experience with major Malaysian brands including Malaysia Airlines, Celcom, CIMB, and Axiata. He most recently served as Chief Brand Officer at digital asset platform Bitazza.
The appointment signals active investment in regional creative leadership in Asia, even as the global CEO position remains vacant.
What Comes Next for the Network
No timeline for the CEO search has been publicly announced. During the transition, APAC regional leaders report through the operating board structure led by Rabbatts.
Al-Qassab previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at Channel 4 and spent more than 20 years at Procter & Gamble across brand management, commercial, and managing director roles. His successor will inherit the five-region operating model, the Cultural Power creative platform, and a group navigating a return to revenue growth after a difficult 2025.
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