M&C Saatchi welcomes back global planning star Catherine Heath as executive strategy director

M&C Saatchi Sydney welcomes back TBWA\Chiat\Day Worldwide planning director Catherine Heath as executive strategy director.

The appointment returns Heath to the agency where she began her illustrious career as a strategy planner in 2001, working out of both the M&C Saatchi Sydney and LA offices.

She followed this with stints at GPY&R and Kastner & Partners, in the meantime founding her own brand consultancy ,’Once Upon a Time Brands’, as a sideline, working with a number of leading brands.

In November 2007 Ms Heath was headhunted to San Francisco by McCann Worldgroup to lead their Microsoft Windows Mobile business as vice president planning director.

Two years later she went eastside as chief strategy officer for creative hot-shop Modernista! in Boston.

Heath joined TBWA\CHIAT\DAY in August 2010, based in Los Angeles as strategy lead on numerous global and local initiatives for VISA, including the 2012 London Summer Olympics, one of the most successful VISA global campaigns to date.

A highlight was her selection last year to attend the Omnicom’s prestigious ‘University’, Advanced Management Program.

Before departing Sydney Heath had another sideline as a leading media pundit on all things brand and consumer trends with regular appearances on Sunrise, A Current Affair, John Laws 2UE and the Sydney Morning Herald, to name a few.

Heath called the move back to M&C Saatchi a “Homecoming”.

Says Heath: “I began my career at M&C Saatchi and have always had such affection and respect for the agency and its philosophy.

“So to be coming ‘home’ to M&C to take up such a wonderful opportunity is fateful in many ways. Joining this team of such talented people and to work with such iconic Australian brands is a dream homecoming for me. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Heath added that she always intended to return to Sydney.

Continued Heath: “It is the most amazing city and well, it’s my ‘home’.

“However, the right time, place, opportunity and people have always been critical in any decision to return. Joining M&C Saatchi is truly the perfect combination of these factors for me.”

Says David Whittle, M&C Saatchi managing director: “It’s great to welcome another boomerang back to M&C Saatchi.

“We were attracted by her passion for brutal simplicity of thought, expertise, knowledge and global experience. Certainly our clients will relish her unique abilities.”

Heath commences at M&C Saatchi today, 5 November.