Saatchi & Saatchi NZ promotes GAD Mark Cochrane to CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Thailand, ex-Colenso BBDO’s Marcelle Baker to take role

Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand group account director Mark Cochrane (left) has accepted an intercompany transfer and promotion to become the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Thailand with ex-Colenso BBDO’s Marcelle Baker (right) to assume group account director role.

Says Nicky Bell, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi NZ: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Mark in his career. I’m a big believer in enabling our best talent to move around the network. Mark has played a huge part in the transformation of our agency over the last couple of years. His absolute passion for creativity, our business and our culture along with his determined optimism has helped us charge towards our future.”

Says Cochrane: “I am very humbled by the opportunity to lead the talented team at Saatchi & Saatchi Thailand. The office is humming, creatively hungry and together we have huge ambitions. At the same time I will certainly miss Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand. The agency rebuild has been a very rewarding experience and the culture is just so great right now.”

Baker will assume Cochrane’s role as group account director on Toyota and DB Breweries. Baker started at Colenso working on brands like BMW Mini, BNZ and Mars before heading to the UK for a few years on P&G and Rimmel cosmetics.

Back in New Zealand at Publicis Mojo, Baker ran the Lion Nathan account and worked across Coke Light international and Schweppes. Most recently Marcelle was again at Colenso BBDO leading the Fonterra, Tip Top, S.C.A. and Monteith’s business.

Says Bell: “Antonio, Murray and I were unanimous in our decision to bring Marcelle on board and we can’t wait for her to get started this week.”