Team Saatchi CD Mark Lorrigan resigns

EXCLUSIVE – Team Saatchi, Auckland creative director Mark Lorrigan has resigned, just a week after the resignation of Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland CD, Luke Chess and less than a month after the departures of CEO Andrew ‘Rocky’ Stone and ECD Mike O’Sullivan at Christmas. Lorrigan’s former creative partner Jordan Sky also left Saatchi’s at Christmas.

Lorrigan (pictured with his family) told Campaign Brief: “I’ve been under a hell of a lot of stress this year, but that’s only because I gave up smoking on new year’s eve. Saatchi’s however, over the last four years has been great, I got handed a blank canvas as far as retail is concerned and now it’s a huge part of the agency offering. There’s a lot of great people there, and that made the decision very hard, but now’s a great time for me to come up for some air and explore some other cool things that have been lurking on the horizon lately.

“You only need to look at the weekend papers to see that retail is big, and it will get bigger, especially because I’m in the later stages of development of a never seen before 523 point starburst that uses an iridescent lime green colour even Pantone don’t know about. While I’m doing that, I’ve got a couple of short-term contracts lined up and I’m really looking forward to working on a ever-broader range of clients. As always, I’m always open for a chat to talk about any other things anyone may have. People can now get me at mark(at)lorrigan.com or at the St Heliers beach playground with my kids.”

Saatchi’s retail work represents a major chunk of their business, and no doubt a search is on for his replacement. CB hears there are several other impending departures from Saatchi’s, with one or two senior suits and creatives known to be looking elsewhere. A Saatchi spokesperson declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the agency is still looking for a replacement for ECD Mike O’Sullivan, with one source saying that interviews were recently held with high profile candidates in New York and that a decision is pretty close. A local replacement is unlikely, as CB hears the only NZ based ECDs considered for the job knocked back the gig prior to Christmas.