M&C Saatchi has appointed Zaid Al-Qassab as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following a formal search process.    

The agency said Zaid's appointment will be effective on 13th May, subject to the completion of normal regulatory due diligence by an advisor. At that time Zillah Byng-Thorne, acting Executive Chair, will return to her role as Non-Executive Chair of the Company.   

Al-Qassab was most recently Chief Marketing Officer at the UK’s Channel 4. He was responsible for marketing, digital, product, communications and PR, advertising and media. He also oversaw the company’s in-house creative agency 4creative, and its digital content and brand entertainment agency 4Studio.    

Earlier he was Chief Brand & Marketing Officer of BT plc, where he led the BT, EE, Plusnet & Openreach brands. He also spent 20 years at Procter & Gamble, in marketing and commercial roles, including as Managing Director of the Health & Beauty division for the UK & Ireland.