Aussie expat adman Brent Smart promoted to CEO role at Saatchi & Saatchi New York

Aussie expat adman Brent Smart has been promoted to the CEO role at Saatchi & Saatchi New York. The 39 year old is currently a worldwide managing director of Saatchi & Saatchi New York.

He succeeds Durk Barnhill, who becomes business development director on Saatchi & Saatchi’s global transformation team that is shaping the future of the company.

Both Smart and Barnhill will report to Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide.

Smart is a member of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Executive Board and has been in New York for two years. Previously, he spent seven years with BBDO. He ran Colenso BBDO in New Zealand, one of the network’s most creative agencies, then transferred to the States to head up BBDO’s west coast operations as managing director of BBDO San Francisco. Across both agencies he led a body of award winning work that won over 20 Cannes Lions and 40 Effies.

“Brent has a record as an outstanding agency leader, a strategic and eloquent contributor in our boardroom, and a fearless producer of work that is equally creative and commercial,” said Roberts.

Barnhill will be responsible for building digital capacity in the Saatchi & Saatchi network and identifying areas for growth. Roberts thanked him for his leadership and contribution as CEO of New York.

Says Smart: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this iconic agency. We have a great team, we work on great brands, we can do great things.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be in our business. There is a big canvas for our creativity as we go way beyond ads to making things that are truly useful, that’s how consumers fall in love and ultimately, how we build our clients’ businesses.”