The dual signing ends a long search for digital leadership at the agency that has been looking to update its reputation for award-winning - but traditional - creative work. A company statement said the hires were part of the agency’s mission ‘to become the most hot-wired creative company on the planet’.
Michael Rebelo, CEO of Saatchis Singapore, said: “We have been looking for a world-class digital thought-leadership team that can be the change agents our creative culture is yearning for.”
Hackstock joins from Clemenger BBDO in Sydney, where he was digital ECD. Before Clemenger, he was based in Los Angeles, where he was part of the team that set up the digital component of TBWA\ Chiat\Day and at Saatchis Los Angeles, where he worked on the strategy for Toyota to enter the digital space.
Lazenby, who has 10 years of experience in digital in the UK, the US and Asia-Pacific, was previously head of M&C Saatchi Melbourne’s digital offering.
“We are not setting up a silo digital organisation at Saatchis,” Rebelo added. “Nathan will be teaming up with our creative leaders - Richard (Copping), Andrew (Petch) and John (Kyrikou), to ensure that technology is driving our creative solutions at every turn with inspiration and innovation.”
Saatchis has consistently perfomed well at global awards shows, particularly with its print work. In this year’s Gunn Report, the agency was the 13th most awarded agency in the world - on the strength of its print output alone. The agency’s creative legacy owes much to former executive creative director Jagdish Ramakrishnan, who left to join BBDO Singapore last summer (Media, 9 August) after a 10-year spell.
On his departure, Rebelo commented: “We’re changing as an agency and his move will suit both parties.”
