AUCKLAND, Monday: Saatchi & Saatchi might still be the most famous name in New Zealand advertising pop culture, but it now languishes behind DDB, FCB, Colenso BBDO and Stanley St – a situation recently appointed ceo Mark Cochrane is working to restore, according to an in-depth Damien Venuto profile published in Anzac Day’s NZ Herald.
“A Kiwi who has been within the agency’s international fold for more than a decade, Cochrane is a self-described Saatchi history buff and is well aware of the weight of the legacy he’s inherited,” Venutto writes.
“The challenge facing Mark Cochrane is in some ways mathematical. He’s entering a business that employed in excess of 150 people in its heyday but now sits at around 55.
“These days, Saatchi continues to demand a respectable list of clients, including DB Breweries, Toyota, Sport NZ, My Food Bag, Nestle, Arnott’s and Paralympics NZ.”
Venutto noted: “Off the back of the recent work from Saatchi and Cochrane, we might just be seeing the start of some much-needed momentum.”
“Off the back of the recent work from Saatchi and Cochrane, we might just be seeing the start of some much-needed momentum.”
Cochrane: “It’s not really just about the Saatchi community any more. It’s also about the greater Publicis Groupe and how we contribute to that. There’s been a big transformation in terms of how we function as an organisation.
“The Publicis Groupe has gone through a huge shift in the last two or three years. We’ve essentially gone from a holding company model through to a connected platform.”
By this, he means various parts of the business are now encouraged to work together more closely to achieve objectives for clients.
“We’re now organised as a community of skills.”
In addition to his role as the ceo of Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand, Cochran also holds the title as the local chief growth officer for the Publicis Groupe.
Venutto: “The pressure will now be on not only to live up to the pressure of the Saatchi name but also to the imposing G-word in his other role.
Hutch, too
Venutto also interviewed Saatchi NZ legend Mike Hutcheson for his piece.
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