'Ultimate adman' Moray MacLennan to leave M&C

M&C Saatchi has been forced into a major changing of the guard, with chief executive Moray MacLennan – who has been part of the senior management team since it was founded 1995 – handing in his notice.

MacLennan has only ever worked at two agencies, starting as a trainee at Saatchi & Saatchi in 1983 after studying law at Christ’s College Cambridge. The ensuing years saw him move up through the ranks to managing director and then jump ship with Maurice and Charles Saatchi when they quit the eponymous agency to set up M&C over 28 years ago.

Over that time, MacLennan has overseen the growth of the business from a small agency based above an estate agent to a global network. However, it has not all been smooth sailing, with the turbulence of the past few years forcing the agency to retrench, relaunch and reposition – let alone see off two hostile takeovers – testing even the ultimate adman’s resilience.

The M&C board says it will now begin the search for a successor, who it expects to be in place within 12 months. In the meantime, non-executive chair Zillah Byng-Thorne will act as executive chair of the company from September 1 2023. MacLennan will leave on September 30.

Byng-Thorne said: “On behalf of the board I would like to thank Moray for his contribution to M&C Saatchi, from the founding of the company in 1995 through to his current role as chief executive officer.

“His leadership has seen the company not just stabilise but deliver record profits and establish strong foundations for future growth.”

MacLennan, who says he plans to retire from the role if not the ad industry, added: “It has been a rare privilege to work for three decades with people I respect and like, creating work that has had an extraordinary impact on the world.

“M&C Saatchi is well set for the future and now is the right time to make way for fresh energy and ideas. Thanks to all past and present, and to those in the future who I know will keep the M&C Saatchi flame burning bright.”