M&C Saatchi bolsters digital ranks: makes two hires

Sarah Homewood
By Sarah Homewood | 27 May 2015
 
From left: Chris James, Claire Van Heyningen, Michael Sinclair.

M&C Saatchi has bolstered its digital ranks with the appointment of Claire van Heyningen to group head of digital and Chris James to group digital creative director.

Van Heyningen and James will join M&C Saatchi digital strategy director Michael Sinclair to drive and shape integrated solutions across the M&C Saatchi Group.

Van Heyningen has more than 17 years in management and leadership roles with a strong focus on technology, business development and people.

Most recently she was One Green Bean's digital client service director, following five years at Host where she was head of digital.

With a digital career spanning over 20 years, James is one of the most awarded digital creatives in the Australian market.

In recent years he has been ranked the number two digital creative director globally at Cannes by the Won Report.

Since 2000 he has founded two creative businesses – Rhubarb & Custard and The Farm Digital and – built two highly awarded digital departments at Tequila and BMF, before heading up the digital offering at Ogilvy & Mather.

At M&C Saatchi James will be responsible for the digital creative output of the entire M&C Saatchi Group, that comprises 10 businesses.

M&C Saatchi CEO Jaimes Leggett said: “Claire, Chris and Michael are pioneers in the digital space with a brilliant track record of consistently producing the sorts of interactive solutions that people just can’t help but engage with.

“They’ve worked at some of the best agencies, on some of the best clients, producing some of the best work in the industry. They make a brilliant addition to our already formidable digital offering.”

The hires follow M&C Saatchi’s recent recruitment of Andy DiLallo as CCO. DiLallo joins chief strategy officer Justin Graham and Leggett as the leads of the M&C Saatchi Group.

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