New York, NY - Brent Smart has
been appointed CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi New York. The 39 year old
Australian is currently a Worldwide Managing Director of Saatchi & Saatchi
New York.
He succeeds Durk
Barnhill, who becomes Business Development Director on Saatchi & Saatchi’s
global transformation team that is shaping the future of the company.
Smart and Barnhill
will report to Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide.
Brent Smart is a
member of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Executive Board and has been in
New York for two years. Previously, Brent spent seven years with BBDO. He ran
Colenso BBDO in New Zealand, one of the network’s most creative agencies, then
transferred to the States to head up BBDO’s West Coast operations as Managing
Director of BBDO San Francisco. Across both agencies he led a body of award
winning work that won over 20 Cannes Lions and 40 Effies.
“Brent has a record
as an outstanding agency leader, a strategic and eloquent contributor in our
boardroom, and a fearless producer of work that is equally creative and
commercial,” said Roberts.
Durk Barnhill will
be responsible for building digital capacity in the Saatchi & Saatchi Network
and identifying areas for growth. Roberts thanked him for his leadership and
contribution as CEO of New York.
On his appointment,
Brent Smart commented: "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this
iconic agency. We have a great team, we work on great brands, we can do great
things.
"There has
never been a more exciting time to be in our business. There is a big canvas
for our creativity as we go way beyond ads to making things that are truly
useful, that's how consumers fall in love and ultimately, how we build our
clients' businesses.”