ASIA-PACIFIC – SEPTEMBER 29, 2011: Michael Rebelo (pictured), currently Managing Director at Saatchi & Saatchi London, will come back to his native Australia as Chief Executive Office of the Sydney office of the agency come November. Current CEO John Foley will assume a yet-unnamed expanded regional role based in Singapore.
Chris Foster, chairman and CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Asia Pacific, says the movements will emphasize Saatchi’s creativity thrust for its Asia-Pacific operations.
The careers of Foley and Rebelo at the network have been intertwined. Rebelo was the general manager of the agency’s Wellington and Sydney offices before being promoted to CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore. When Rebelo was elevated to managing director in London in 2008, Saatchi & Saatchi regained creative leadership in the UK industry, which included the Cannes-award-winning and record-breaking campaigns for T-Mobile. Rebelo also helped drive the financial growth of Saatchi’s celebrated Charlotte Street office.
Foley started his career at the Wellington office and led the Malaysia office in 2004 as CEO of Malaysia after helming the Toyota/Lexus APAC account out of Singapore. His role was extended to CEO of Singapore when Rebelo moved to London. Foley has headed up the Sydney office since early 2009.
“I’ve had my eye on this role for some time, actually since 1997, when I first started at Saatchi & Saatchi as an account manager! So it’s a right honor to be given the opportunity to lead the company in Australia,” said Rebelo.
His formula, he says, is straightforward: create world-class ideas, developed and produced by world-class talent, for the clients. “This will be an exciting time for us as we have some fresh plans for the agency, coupled with some very passionate people,” Rebelo added.
