Moray MacLennan, Worldwide CEO of M&C SAATCHI has announced the opening team of the international Group's new agency in this market, M&C Saatchi Abel.

"I'm thrilled to announce the core opening team of the new agency. It is a group of people that have been carefully hand-picked by me and our local and international partners in establishing what we hope to be, South Africa's next great agency," said MacLennan.

"A world-class agency with a single focus - to grow our clients' market shares through brilliant work. Nothing is more important to us and we will use the best people, the best thinking, the best strategies and technologies to achieve that."

The founding partners, include Mike Abel who is the Chief Executive Partner. Abel most recently CEO of M&C Saatchi Group, Australia and before that, COO of Ogilvy South Africa. Well known in the marketing and communications industry, Abel has played a key role in growing the Australian Division over the past year and prior to that was a key executive at Ogilvy South Africa, growing numerous companies in that group, which earned him the Agency Leader in South Africa award in 2006, by the Financial Mail. Abel has led some of

South Africa's most prized and successful accounts including Volkswagen South Africa; BP; Old Mutual; and numerous other coveted brands and categories.

Industry heavy-weight, Peter Badenhorst is the Chief Creative Partner. Badenhorst has a both formidable and enviable track record, which includes being joint Executive Creative Director of Ogilvy Johannesburg for over 10 years and more recently over the past four years, Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy One and Interactive. "Peter has impeccable creative leadership credentials spanning both new media and traditional" said Moray MacLennan, Worldwide CEO of M&C SAATCHI.

"We were massively impressed with his portfolio of work and the clear demonstration he showed in solving complex communications problems for clients and more importantly, in growing their business."

Badenhorst is well known for his work in the financial services industry, including Nedbank, a highly valued contribution to SAB Miller brands as well as automotive (Volkswagen/Audi); retail; telecoms; and FMCG.

Another founder is Zeyad Davids, Managing Partner: Digital, Direct & Data. Davids, who joins Abel in returning to South Africa having spent the past 14 years living in Australia. Most recently Zeyad was Delloitte's leader of Digital Marketing and CRM, based in Sydney, responsible for leading the development and implementation of digital marketing strategy.

"When I read about Mike heading back to South Africa to establish M&C Saatchi there, I contacted him and we connected immediately. I believe there is massive untapped potential in South Africa and I'm thrilled to bring my skills back to both SA and Africa."

Davids is well known in the Australian Digital market for having successfully listed a digital media company, having then spent time at Saatchi & Saatchi working with their blue-chip client bases and prior to Delloite, being head of CRM & Digital at Toyota Australia's Lexus Division, the premium brand of the country's largest seller of cars.

Denise van der Westhuizen is Chief Operating Partner, who together with Badenhorst and Abel, was a very senior Ogilvy executive and Holding Board Director for over a decade.

"Denise has been a trusted friend and partner of mine for many years," says Abel. "She is the consummate professional. I have seen her successfully handle some of the largest and complex accounts in South Africa. Also, she has consistently built and grown teams around her that are capable of delivering exceptional depth, understanding and value to their client's business.

Van Der Westhuizen is perhaps best known for her key role in repositioning Old Mutual in the early nineties and having run that business as well as MWEB, securing Castrol’s international account, all with outstanding creative and business success, until she left Ogilvy just over a year ago.

Vumile Mavumangwane joins as Creative Director, Design. "Vums is one of South Africa's brightest and relevant design talents" says Badenhorst. "I have watched his career over the years and always knew that I would want him to head design for my agency one day." Vumile has spent time at Jupiters; Ogilvy; and Joe Public. Joining Mavumangwane as a further Creative Director, is Mark Winkler. "Mark is our creative head of digital, direct and mobile," says Badenhorst. "Over the past eight years, he has immersed himself in these channels and following his multi-Cannes award-winning years in above the line, it is an formidable combination of competencies."

Denise van der Westhuizen said: "The last thing we wanted was an agency where clients were victims of the juniorization of the industry, where those attending the daily meetings could not deliver the requisite expertise. We have therefore built a broad team of very experienced marketers and advertisers and simultaneously hired some of the country's best graduate talent that we can nurture and grow. Usually it is either or. We have invested in both."

"I think this line-up gives a small taste of some of the talent available to clients at M&C SAATCHI ABEL," says Moray MacLennan, Worldwide CEO. "When I asked Mike to set up South Africa for the Group, we decided to invest upfront in the very best talent. Also, based on what Mike managed to achieve during his time in Australia, we have every faith that the agency in South Africa will provide its clients with invaluable creative thinking and results."

Mike Abel said he believed that the M&C SAATCHI ethos, tools and practise of "Brutal Simplicity of Thought", clearly differentiated the offering. "There has also been a happy co-incidence between the accounts that my team and I have been involved in and the market leaders in their respective categories," says Abel. "I have surrounded myself with bright, experienced and honest brokers that concern themselves solely with growing their clients' business."

Similarly, we have access to exceptional international partners and thinking that can help our clients in their business ambitions.

Lord Saatchi said, "We think that South Africa is at an exciting point in its history and I have confidence that our agency there will be of the highest calibre, not just locally, but beyond its borders."

For more information, contact Mike Abel on [email protected].