Berrigan and Gardner depart Saatchi’s
CB NZ exclusive – Saatchi & Saatchi’s purge of its senior ranks continues with the departure of managing director Sonya Berrigan yesterday afternoon, after just over a year in the role. Berrigan had been with Saatchi’s since 2003.
Already flagged by CB, Tony Gardner (below), general manager of Saatchi & Saatchi DGS, also left yesterday, but CB understands he will continue to consult on some agency projects for a period of time. Gardner is the last of the DGS partners to depart the agency.
Only on Monday, Berrigan told CB there was no truth in the rumour shewas being retrenched, so she was either putting on a brave face or wasunaware what was about to unfold.
Berrigan joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 2003 as a group account directorto head up the NZ arm of the Trans-Tasman Westpac account, charged withdriving the NZ business whilst ensuring Trans-Tasman efficiencies andalignment, reporting to both the CEO in Auckland and the GM in Sydney.
Priorto 2003, she was group account director at Whybin TBWA where she wasresponsible for repositioning ASB Bank to the bank that’s ‘one stepahead’ and was a key driver of the highly successful Goldstein campaign.
Tony Gardner, GM Saatchi DGS, has since confirmed to CB he is leaving Saatchi’s.
Gardner rejoined Saatchi’s in March 2008 after six years away working in advertising and digital roles in Australia, Asia and Europe. He, Aaron Dustin and Matt Shirtcliffe set up Saatchi DGS, Saatchi’s Digital and Direct offering. Gardner led the digital effort.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work at Saatchi’s twice now, first for seven years in the 90’s in Wellington, learning from the likes of James Hall, Kim Thorp, Kate Smith and Geoff Ross. And this time to draw on my advertising and digital experience, and past Saatchi learings, to build a genuine digital capability in the agency,” says Gardner. “I’m delighted by what the team achieved, particularly Admedia Agency of the Year in 2009.”
As well as GM at Saatchi DGS, Gardner is the Chair of the CAANZ Digital leadership Group and on the CAANZ Board. Gardner will work through June with Saatchis on several key projects.
24 Comments
No surprise. Saatchi are entering a new phase.
She will be sadly missed there – an amazing operator, completely inspirational to all around her. Saatchi’s loss is someone else’s gain…
So Huse got cut also? Sonya has put her life into this place, you think they could’ve spun this a little softer – although, you reap what you sow.
The Bell Tolls.
Why does she have a shadow all around her?
Absolutely agree about Sonya. She is one of the best.
Good luck to Saatchis, but if their re-organisational plan involves getting rid of people as smart, talented and hardworking as Sonya, there is at least one teensy-weensy little flaw in it.
She could always go back to DDB. Or Whybins.
1.54. Maybe. And maybe not. Maybe it’s a good plan. Some might think so.
What? And do another 3 months at DDB?
Sonya, you are truly brilliant and massively inspiring. GOodluck with your next adventure wehre I am sure you will kick some butt – with the creative always at heart…. A massive loss.
Overall sounds like good decisions for Saatchis.
3:23
You’re right. It may be a good plan, and the best of luck to them. I just think the actual raw material of our business is good people, not organisational structures. I’ve seen agencies swing from ‘seperate silos’ to ‘we are one’ organisations and then back again when it was found that neither structure fixed other underlying problems..
If you’ve got a good person, hold on to them. Of course, folks’ opinions of Sonya’s abilities may differ too, and fair enough. My own is she’s one of the best i’ve worked with.
Bit of a theme running around the Auckland ad scene; expensive people getting axed unless they set up their own shop -( the Drogas and Josh and Jamie’s of this world). The days of the highly paid senior level management with no immediate/direct contribution to the bottom line are gone – but we’ve seen this before and shortly the corporate knives will be blunt with the lack of serious talent planning their campaigns.
It’s easy to chop a tall poppy down – but you gotta feel for Sonya. Yip, she’s tough and doesn’t suffer fools. But she has given the agency her all and managed through a tough time. She will bounce back and do well; she deserves a good break.
A lesson learned that protection from your boss only lasts as long as your boss is there. That day has come. People are the most important asset any agency has. This is a lesson to any person in power that you need to treat your staff properly.
Standard stuff – get rid of those that are a threat but more likely the types of salaries these guys are pulling are not sustainable. The margin on direct and digital are way smaller, less fee paying clients, more campaign and project work all means fixed costs are harder to cover.
7.45.
The flaw in your rationale is that thy’ve just hired some GREAT people, not just good people. You are clinging to the past.
8.12. Just asking, but was she really a tall poppy?
Think you’re adding ‘a bit of height’ there.
Goneya!
8.45 – is that you Wedde?
Just too many people scared to speak out. The new brooms did the right thing. The Strand will finally be able to go forward.
What a load of bollocks Mark
Load of bollocks it is not Anonymous.
Agree with 10.05.
The key here is in the story. After only a year in the role. And it wasn’t much of a year was it. Let’s face it. Major clients lost. Major staff dissatisfaction.