M&C Saatchi chief executive officer Zaid Al-Qassab will step down at the end of March, less than two years after taking the top role at the global advertising group.
Al-Qassab joined the group in 2024 after previously serving as chief marketing officer at Channel 4, replacing co-founder Moray MacLennan, who stepped down in September 2024.
The departure has been described by the company as a mutual agreement and comes after recent profit pressure and ongoing concerns around trading performance.
Al-Qassab’s final day will be 31 March.
Heather Rabbatts
Heather Rabbatts, chair of M&C Saatchi, will move into the role of executive chair while the company searches for a permanent chief executive.
Leadership change follows profit warning
The board said Al-Qassab had played a key role in reshaping the business during a period of structural consolidation.
According to the company, his tenure included integrating more than 40 independent businesses into five operating regions, alongside restarting acquisitions after a seven-year pause.
The board also credited him with integrating two acquisitions and leading the rollout of the group’s Cultural Power proposition.
Rabbatts said Al-Qassab leaves behind a more connected operating structure.
“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.
“We wish him all the best for the future.
“In my role as interim executive chair, I will be focused on driving our strategy and shareholder value, and supporting our talented team to continue to deliver best-in-class solutions for our clients through our diverse portfolio of specialisms.”
Financial pressure continues
M&C Saatchi has been under pressure following a January trading update that forecast like-for-like revenue down around 7% for 2025.
Excluding Australia, the decline was expected to be approximately 2.5%, with the Australian business singled out internally as a weak point in the global network.
The company has not yet announced a date for the release of its full-year 2025 results.
Board expands as major shareholder steps in
Alongside the leadership change, M&C Saatchi confirmed the appointment of Vin Murria as director and deputy chair, effective immediately.
Murria is a major shareholder, holding 11.8% of the business.
She said she intends to support the company’s next phase of growth.
“As a long-term shareholder, I am looking forward to working with Heather and the Board to support the delivery of the Company’s strategy and to drive the business forward,” Murria said.
“M&C Saatchi is a special business that has significant exposure to high-growth sectors through its diverse portfolio of specialisms with huge potential for value creation across all its constituent parts.”
The company also appointed Nicholas Shott as an independent director.
Shott brings more than three decades of financial services experience, including senior roles at Lazard.
AdvancedAdvT, which holds a 9.8% stake in M&C Saatchi through associated interests, has confirmed that it does not intend to make an offer for the company.
Top Image: M+C Saatchi.