Saatchis hands MD position to Rebelo

by Kunal Dutta, Campaign 22-Feb-08

Saatchi & Saatchi has ended its long search for a London managing director by appointing Michael Rebelo, the chief executive of the agency's Singapore office, to the vacant role.

Rebelo will start in his new position in June, reporting to Robert
Senior, the UK chief executive of the SSF Group. He will be responsible
for the day-to-day running of the London office.

His appointment completes Saatchi & Saatchi London's senior team

line-up, following the hirings of Richard Huntington as the head of
strategy and Paul Silburn as the creative partner last year.

Senior has been looking for a London head since he took on his SSF role
in July. Before that, the agency had been without a chief executive
since Lee Daley left in February.

Rebelo said: "Saatchi & Saatchi London is an exciting place to be right
now. Robert has put together an astonishing leadership team in Kate
(Stanners), Paul and Richard. I have pretty bold ambitions for the
agency and look forward to working with Robert and the team to get
there."

Senior said: "Michael is world-class talent. He has exactly the right
combination of experience, talent and energy to make a colossal
difference."

Since joining Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore, Rebelo has led the agency to
a number of new-business wins in the Asia-Pacific region including ESPN,
MSIG Insurance, Sony Ericsson, Tiger Beer and United Overseas Bank.

Before moving to Singapore, Rebelo was the general manager of Saatchi &
Saatchi Australia and held the same role for the agency's New Zealand
operation, running the Wellington office.