Saatchi & Saatchi Australia CEO Michael Rebelo passes baton to ex Havas CEO Anthony Gregorio
Saatchi & Saatchi Australia CEO Michael Rebelo has today announced that after six years at the helm, he is passing the leadership mantle over to newly appointed successor, Anthony Gregorio, most recently CEO of Havas Australia.
Following an extensive global and local search, Gregorio (pictured far left with Rebelo), who departed the group CEO role at Havas in October last year, has been appointed as CEO to lead the agency at a national level and will be supported by Rebelo, who will continue as CEO of Publicis Communications ANZ and in his role as Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi ANZ.
An experienced agency leader with a proven track record of building successful businesses and award winning campaigns, Gregorio enjoyed enviable creative and commercial achievements in his most recent role as CEO of Havas Worldwide Group; winning the inaugural Grand Prix for Effectiveness at Cannes, the coveted Black Pencil at D&AD Awards and seeing Havas Sydney named Campaign Brief “NSW Agency of the Year”.
Rebelo: “After six years of leading the Saatchi & Saatchi brand in Australia, I’m very pleased to announce that Anthony Gregorio will take over the national leadership as CEO.
“I’ve known Anthony as a fellow leader in our industry and have always had a great deal of admiration for his strength of values, his character and for the impact he’s made on the agency’s business, product and the cultures he’s led. I’ve been privileged and lucky to be doing my dream job for the past six years, but now it’s time for a change and I couldn’t think of anyone better to take the brand, our clients and people to new places.
“I’d like to thank my team and clients in both Sydney and Melbourne for their inspiration and commitment over the years. I won’t be going far so will continue to support our people, clients and Anthony from my role as Publicis Communications CEO.”
AddsGregorio: “I’m honoured and excited to be joining Saatchi & Saatchi. It’s a brand I have always admired, one with an amazing legacy. Now more than ever, the power of creativity to create a business advantage is crucial for our clients. I look forward to building on what Mike has achieved, working alongside Chief Creative Officer Mike Spirkovski and the team.”
44 Comments
Nice move Ant. But. Wasn’t ‘winning the inaugural Grand Prix for Effectiveness at Cannes’ Steve Coll and done/won with Walkers Crisps out of AMV/BBDO? Not Havas’s win.
Ant you bloody beauty! Good move Saatchi!
Great news, Gregorio!! Exciting times.
Worlds Most Powerful Arm, you dumb idiot.
Sexy. Like a parrot on the shoulder. Right here *taps shoulder
Well done Ant, best of luck mate.
Nicely done Mike and Ant – great news for both of you!
Great news fellas. But why are you both pulling the same funny face?
That’s not inaugural, dumb idiot.
http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/amv-bbdo-wins-inaugural-grand-prix-creative-effectiveness-132914/
Virgin Mobile won a Gold Lion at Cannes for Creative Effectiveness in 2014 for Havas, where Steve Coll was the ECD. Steve also won the inaugural Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix for Walkers Crisps at AMV/BBDO. He’s a legend and I got some facts mixed up which I apologise for. I’m proud of the result we achieved nonetheless.
Cheers
Ant
Two true gentlemen who do our profession proud
Great hire for Saatchi’s and a perfect role for Ant. Good Luck gents.
Top news, great team S&S.
Great news Ant, congratulations. Great hire Saatchis! Formidable team.
Great hire Mike. Look forward to working with you in the future Ant.
Well done Saatchi & Saatchi on an excellent hire! A great team to take an awesome brand forward.
As one of many whom Ant has backed and given career defining opportunities to, I say well done mate – you thoroughly deserve it and Saatchis is lucky to have you. You’ll have to behave yourself for at least the first few days though. Good luck with that.
awesome work ant and well done mr wolf
Gentlemen, congrats to you both.
Clients don’t give a fuck about awards, stop bickering and get on your toes.
Increase brand value, add value, show and prove effectiveness and engagement.
Then worry about awards, litttttttterrallly in that order.
David Ogilvy described advertising as “the only business where the company’s assets go down on the elevator every night”.
This business is about getting people to be at their absolute best. Working as one.
Nobody is better at uniting and inspiring people than Ant.
So mate, give Saatchis the full-Gregorio.
70 George St, you’ll love it.
Did Steve Coll do that all by himself or with a team of talented individuals around him?
Just curious.
I once stood up in a meeting and proposed that creatives should learn the business of selling. Shutdown by my CEO for the want of being what he deemed a suit.
Massive congrats Ant and well deserved!
Congrats Ant, well done mate!
Nice one Ant, well deserved mate.
Well done to my old agency Saatchi & Saatchi, you couldn’t have hired a better CEO than my old colleague, Antonio Gregorio.
Good stuff. Great move by ya both!
How lucky you are Saatchi & Saatchi to have one of the best, and one of the nicest to lead the agency. Well done Ant, you are a legend…….x
You rarely see such a positive set of comments on CB. It’s testament to you, you absolute bloody legend. S&S are lucky to have you. @louie…I see you! hahaha
Congratulations Ant and Mike. A great team there. All the best to both of you.
Congrats Ant! Well deserved.
And wardrobe..
Lucky Saatchi’s. The best CEO you could hope to work for.
Congrats guys.
There is no better and nicer industry person than Ant.
You will be great and I wish you well.
NIck G
Congrats Anthony.
Congratulations to my old agency, Saatchi & Saatchi. You’ve made a fine choice in selecting my old colleague, Antonio Gregorio as your new CEO.
Bravo Cocka, and nice play Saatchis.
As nearly every comment reflects, you’re the best kind of leader and you’ll smash it.
Well done, Ant. Super happy for you and I know you’ll do an amazing job.
I remember…
Congrats Ant, a great hire for Saatchi&Saatchi – exciting things ahead.
PP
Well done ouleh
Massive congrats Ant.