100 days into his role as Chief Strategy Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, Leif Stromnes speaks with @lbbonline 's Brittney Rigby about his passion for the Saatchi & Saatchi “club” and his @publicisgroupeanz “country.”
Speaking on the connected model, Leif talks to the agency’s ability to draw upon an endless range of capabilities within the Groupe to offer clients the right solution to their business challenges.
“Having access to incredible media talent, incredible digital talent, incredible consulting talent is really intoxicating. And I feel empowered to truly offer a client a solution. I know there is a capability, there is will, there is collaboration.
I can offer business consultancy. I don't have to offer advertising alone. Our tool is creativity, our outcome is effectiveness,” he said.
“That's been the biggest shift for me. I really have confidence selling what I think is the right solution to a client's business problem.”
To read more, click the link in our bio
Mandie van der Merwe, Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, has been named as a finalist in @campaign.asia 's Women Leading Change awards!
Now in its tenth year, the Women Leading Change Awards recognise leaders who move the industry forward.
Mandie’s track record of building strong teams, shaping culture and raising the bar on what good leadership looks like has created meaningful impact at Saatchi & Saatchi.
To be acknowledged alongside such a strong group of women from across Asia-Pacific is a meaningful marker of where our industry is heading, and who’s helping lead it there.
Congratulations, Mandie. We couldn’t be prouder.
Mandie van der Merwe, CCO at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and AWARD Chair, will join the AWARD Lab GenAI Sprint Jury for 2026.
Bringing together leaders from across creative, technology, production and media, the sprint challenges the next generation of talent to use GenAI to develop ideas for a live not‑for‑profit brief - with winning work set to run across digital out‑of‑home.
A fantastic collaboration between AWARD, Leonardo.Ai, and the Outdoor Media Association to explore how AI can unlock the future of possibility.
A proud moment for Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, with five shortlists for this year’s @mumbrella_aus Awards across four clients – @toyota_aus , @youfoodz , @arnottsbiscuits , and @bankofqueensland .
Thanks to the teams and clients who brought to the work to life, and to Mumbrella for the recognition.
Winners announced in June!
We’re excited to share the launch of @rspcapetinsuranceofficial ’s new brand platform, We Know Animals.
Working alongside RSPCA Pet Insurance and @atomic212group , this platform draws on the RSPCA’s long‑standing, lived understanding of animals - the quirks, chaos and care that come with loving them.
From swallowed socks to unexpected accidents, We Know Animals reflects the beautiful unpredictability of pet ownership, grounded in the trust and expertise the RSPCA has built over more than 150 years.
Thank you to our production partners at Publicis Production, @prodigious.au and OTIS.
To read more, click the link in our bio.
From its beginnings as the first small SUV in Australia to today’s sixth‑generation, the All-New Toyota RAV4 balances capability with innovation, built to inspire Australians to enjoy the moment and embrace the great outdoors.
Saatchi & Saatchi and Toyota Australia have brought this to life through a new brand platform, ‘Long Live Recreation’. Whether you’re a hardcore mountain biker or enjoy the comforts of glamping, the RAV4 unlocks a world of recreation.
Thank you to partners Toyota Motor Corporation Australia and Spark Foundry Australia, and production partners COUSIN, Arc Worldwide, Rumble Studios and Prodigious Australia for their collaboration on this campaign.
To read more, click the link in our bio.
“There are a thousand ways to make advertising. Only a few ways to make something people care about. The hard part is protecting the weird little idea that might actually cut through.”
William Campion, copywriter at Saatchi & Saatchi, discovered the world of advertising through his love of writing, storytelling and ideas.
Recently appointed to Advertising Council Australia’s Futures board, Will looks to play an active role in shaping the industry, and helping younger creatives to navigate it.
His hopes for the future? “Being someone other people feel comfortable bothering with their ideas, and leaving the industry a little better than when I found it.”
To read more, click the link in our bio.
We’re proud to share that two Saatchi & Saatchi team members - Sophie Whitehead, Integrated Designer, and Sophie Harper, Copywriter - have been named finalists in the B&T Cairns Hatchlings competition.
Competing against emerging talent from across Asia Pacific, the duo will take on the Out of Home category, creating an eye-catching OOH campaign for Bandanna Day to help raise awareness of teen cancer in Australia.
Best of luck, Sophies - we can’t wait to see what you create. Winners will be announced on 14 May 2026.
“Creativity isn’t sustained by tools alone. It’s sustained by generations of talent in conversation with each other. When experience exits without succession, it’s lost. When junior pathways compress, potential stalls. These aren’t separate challenges, but symptoms of a deeper loss of continuity.”
In her op-ed for @lbbonline , Mandie van der Merwe, CCO at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, reflects on the importance of protecting the industry’s memory, and its future, and why Saatchi & Saatchi is investing in both senior and junior talent to protect creative continuity.
She explains “Continuity is the backbone of creativity. It is built through who hire, who we promote, who we mentor and who we make time for. “
To read more, click the link in our bio.
Australia can’t stop watching animals on TikTok - with #PetTok delivering daily joy to more than 10 million users. But how do you turn a scroll into a real-world adoption?
Introducing Fur You Feed, our new campaign with Animal Welfare League NSW, designed to help animal lovers take the next step during National Pet Adoption Month.
Instead of interrupting feeds with ads, adoption prompts appear seamlessly within popular pet content on TikTok- meeting people at the moment they’re already emotionally engaged, and linking directly to real pets ready for their forever homes.
Huge thanks to our client partner @awlnsw , and our PR and media partners @herdmsl and @sparkfoundryaus for helping to bring this to life.
To read more, click the link in our bio.
We’re proud to announce that Saatchi & Saatchi Australia have four finalists in the B&T 30 under 30 awards.
These individuals represent the high calibre of emerging talent – both in our industry, and at Saatchi & Saatchi.
A big congratulations to these bright young minds. Winners announced 12th of March!
To read more, click the link in our bio.
Vote for our 30 under 30s!
We’re thrilled to present Saatchi & Saatchi’s talented young stars who have been entered into the @bandtaustralia 30 Under 30 competition.
This year, we have an exceptional group of creative minds from Saatchi & Saatchi, each bringing their unique flair and expertise to the table.
From creative geniuses to strategic thinkers, our entrants are paving the way for the future of the advertising industry.
Introducing our 30 under 30 Saatchi & Saatchi team:
- Alvin Zhong, Art Director
- Caitlin Alcock, Strategist
- Jackson Elliott, Art Director
- Matias Reyes, Art Director
- Sophie Harper, Copywriter
- Sophie Whitehead, Designer
Please take a moment to vote for them by clicking the link in our bio
