M&C Saatchi Melbourne merges with Samuelson Talbot & Partners; Talbot + Taylor to head agency

Australia: It has been announced that M&C Saatchi’s Melbourne office will merge with Samuelson Talbot & Partners (ST&P). Esteemed Melbourne adman Bob Talbot and award-winning creative Paul Taylor will head M&C Saatchi Melbourne with Talbot filling the role of CEO and Taylor as ECD.

Kenny Hill will remain as managing director. ST&P partner Catherine Graham will be director growth strategies.

Says Tom Dery, M&C Saatchi Worldwide chairman: “ST&P is a highly-regarded, long-established agency run by two of the best and most experienced operators in Melbourne. It is a forward thinking business driven by a very strong entrepreneurial ethos – one that fits very well with how we operate at M&C Saatchi.”

Talbot formed ST&P in Melbourne and Sydney in 1978. It went on to launch a number of famous Australian brands including Cussons, Imperial Leather, Colonial and Mayne.

The merger reunites Taylor, ST&P’s creative director and partner with his former colleagues of more than 10 years. 

Taylor was M&C Saatchi’s first creative appointment following its launch in 1995.

After two years in Sydney Taylor shifted to M&C Saatchi Melbourne and for the next eight years was instrumental in the office enjoying a rich run of success, including Campaign Brief Creative Agency of the Year in 2001.

In all M&C Saatchi won 10 AdNews, B&T and Campaign Brief Agency of the Year titles and four Melbourne Art Directors’ Club ‘Best in Shows’ during Taylor’s tenure, which saw him rise to creative partner for Australasia & North America.

Says Tom McFarlane, regional creative director: “It’s gratifying to welcome Paul back to the M&C Saatchi fold and to get the chance to work with Bob, someone I’ve admired since my days in Melbourne.”

Talbot called the merger an opportunity “to leverage a powerful brand name that we believe will create better opportunities for our clients and our people.”

Says Talbot: “What attracted us was the M&C Saatchi Worldwide model – a federation of entrepreneurial start ups with owner managers rather than a multinational network of offices. This is totally aligned with how we view business.”

Says Jaimes Leggett, M&C Saatchi Australia CEO: “This is a great move for us – the merger enables us to work with some incredibly talented people, great clients and to bring some real scale to our Melbourne operation.”