Penny Sarfati departs JWT general manager gig for managing partner role at M&C Saatchi, Sydney

Penny Sarfati has resigned as general manager of JWT to take the role of managing partner of M&C Saatchi, Sydney, responsible for the Woolworths portfolio and Qantas account.

She will begin her new role on 22 February, reporting to managing director David Whittle.

Sarfati comes to the agency a proven performer at the highest echelons of account service either side of the Tasman. She rose to board business director at DDB following a decade at that agency, before her three-year stint at JWT.

She has been account service lead on a broad mix of local and global FMCG/retail, travel and telco clients throughout her career and was instrumental in DDB winning lead agency status on McDonald’s.

Whittle said people of Ms Sarfati’s calibre are extremely rare: “Penny’s skills and experience are second to none and she will be a fantastic addition to our team.”

Sarfati is relishing the opportunity posed by the role: “Despite being a big agency and looking after some of Australia’s largest, most iconic brands, M&C Saatchi retains an unapologetic focus on it’s people,” she said. 


“The opportunity to work on such well-loved Aussie brands, at one of the best and biggest agencies, was the perfect fit for me. I am very much looking forward to getting started.”