M+C Saatchi Names Sophie Gallagher as Group Strategy Director
M+C Saatchi names Sophie Gallagher as Group Strategy Director to unify media and creative planning across Australian operations, signaling broader APAC leadership restructuring.
M+C Saatchi has appointed Sophie Gallagher as Group Strategy Director, placing her in charge of the agency's Connections Strategy function and integrated campaign development across all client accounts in Australia.
Role Designed to Bridge Media and Creative Planning
The position is newly created, not a replacement hire. Gallagher's mandate is to ensure media and creative planning work together rather than in separate teams, a structural gap the agency is explicitly moving to close.
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Gallagher brings more than 10 years of experience across journalism, publishing, and agency work. She joins from Clemenger BBDO, where she served as Strategy Director. Prior to that, she held roles at Slingshot Media Ventures and News Corp.
Her confirmed client work spans Samsung, LVMH, Sony, Audi, Universal, Compare Club, The University of Sydney, and Ingham's. Her strategic work has been recognized at six award bodies: Cannes Lions, Effies, Spikes, AWARD, AGDA, and the MFA Awards.
"This is a pivotal time in our industry, where media and creative must work hand in hand to drive impact and influence," Gallagher said. "I am excited to work with M+C to bring this dynamic combination to clients, and create work that drives trust, engagement and results."
Simon Wassef, Group Chief Strategy Officer at M+C Saatchi, described Gallagher as "the best connections strategist in the market," adding that "her ideas are exciting and they work bloody hard."
Appointment Sits Within a Broader APAC Leadership Overhaul
The hire is one of several senior appointments M+C Saatchi has made across its global and Asia Pacific operations. APAC CEO Justin Graham is departing after 12 years, with Asia operations shifting to be led from the agency's Singapore headquarters. Dani Bassil has been named CEO for Australia and New Zealand, effective August 2025.
At the global level, Jackie Stevenson was appointed Global Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, also effective August 2025, reporting directly to Global CEO Zaid Al-Qassab. Karen Boswell was named Global CEO for Digital Experience, Performance, and Consulting, effective July 2025.
In Asia, Glenn Bartlett was appointed Integrated Services Director at M+C Saatchi Hong Kong, a role mirroring Gallagher's integration focus in Australia. In February 2025, Dinesh Sandhu joined as Country Director for M+C Saatchi Performance in Malaysia, tasked with scaling full-funnel performance marketing across Southeast Asia.
Gallagher's Profile Beyond Client Strategy
Outside her agency work, Gallagher leads Assisterhood NSW, a mentorship program for underrepresented professionals in the communications industry. Under her leadership, the program recorded a 42% year-on-year increase in mentor participation.
She was also a finalist in the 2025 B&T Women in Media Awards in the Strategy category.
Gallagher holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications from the University of Sydney, an institution she has also worked with as a client.
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