Anastasiadis swaps executive director role at Saatchi’s for team leader gig at Mojo Sydney

Joe Pollard, the recently appointed CEO of Publicis Mojo Australia announced today the appointment of Steve Anastasiadis (left) to the leadership team of Publicis Mojo Australia, moving from his executive director role at sister agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

Anastasiadis will take on the role of team leader on key accounts including Nestle, Toyota and Frontline. He will also become a member of the management team in the now wholly owned Publicis Worldwide agency.

The move to Publicis Mojo comes after a long career with Saatchi & Saatchi where he left the Sydney operation as general manager over a decade ago to take on the Paris based position of regional director on the Toyota account across EMEA. From there, he was promoted to the CEO role of the Saatchi Dubai office, the agency’s hub operation for the Middle East region. He re-joined the Sydney agency three years ago as executive director.

This is the first senior appointment Pollard has made since taking over the helm as CEO of the Publicis Mojo Australian operation.

Says Pollard: “Steve is a highly motivated and experienced executive. He has been a senior leader in the Saatchi & Saatchi network in Australia, Paris and Dubai for a number of years and brings his team leadership, strategic skills and overall management experience to our team. I am thrilled that he will become part of the leadership team of the agency and will play a key role in helping me accelerate a number of key initiatives.”

Says Michael Rebelo, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Australia: “Being part of the Publicis Groupe allows us to match our talent with our client’s needs. Steve has been a big part of our Saatchi & Saatchi culture and history, and whilst we’re sad to see him leave we’re fully supportive of his move to our sister shop Publicis Mojo. This move reinforces the Groupe’s commitment to Toyota.”

Says Anastasiadis: “I was delighted to be joining the Publicis Mojo team. I have always been impressed at Mojo’s strategic and creative abilities from my first hand experience working alongside them on the Toyota business in Australia for many years. Our successful collaboration on the co-created brand campaign for Toyota last year was a positive experience for all parties.

“I am excited to be taking on the account leadership of Toyota, Nestle and Frontline. It is an important and exciting time for Publicis Mojo and choosing someone like Joe with her marketing, digital and media background to lead the business is a real indicator of the desire to move the game on. I will learn a lot from her and know I will offer complimentary skills and experience to the equation. I also look forward to working with the great strategic, creative and account management talent at the agency.”

Anastasiadis will start in the Sydney office on Monday.