M&C Saatchi appoints Virgin Mobile executive Vanessa Nicol to Optus account director role

M&C Saatchi Sydney has appointed highly credentialed telco marketer Vanessa Nicol to Optus group account director.

Nicol starts with M&C Saatchi on 16 May from her current role as Virgin Mobile Australia head of acquisition marketing, capping off more than 10 years as a top-flight marketer for both Virgin and Optus.

She rose through the ranks at Optus with a series of corporate roles including: National Marketing Manager – Optus Prepaid Services, Acquisition Marketing Manager – Optus Retail, Acquisition Marketing Manager – Optus World and Optus Channel Communications Manager.

M&C Saatchi Group Head Optus and Managing Partner Christine Gardner said Nicol will bring plenty of invaluable client insight to her new role at M&C Saatchi: “People with the breadth and depth of Vanessa’s marketing experience in the telco space are very rare and we’re extremely pleased to have her on board.”

Nicol is relishing the opportunity to take her skills, knowledge and experience agency side: “M&C Saatchi and Optus have a deep and meaningful relationship that has borne some truly category-leading work and I will be working hard to add to that legacy.

“This is a fantastic career move for me and I can’t wait to get started.”

Nicol replaces Mark Timmins who remains at M&C Saatchi as senior lead on other agency accounts and new business. She will report to Christine Gardner.