M+C Saatchi North America has appointed industry veteran Suresh Raj as its first Chief Growth Officer, responsible for leading new business and growth for the agency as it continues its US expansion.

Raj most recently served as Chief Growth Officer at McCann New York, and before that was Global Growth Officer at Virtue Worldwide. Earlier he was Worldwide Chief Business Development Officer at Ogilvy Group. He also sits on the Cannes Lions-ANA CMO Growth Council.  

An advocate of diversity across all spectrums, Raj is an ADCOLOR Rockstar nominee. He served as a jury member of the Cannes Glass Lions (Lion of Change) in 2024 and was recently inducted as an Executive Member of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.  

His appointment is the latest in a series of hires as the agency expands efforts in North America, including the hiring of Nadja Bellan-White as the region’s first CEO. The firm has also tapped Stevie Archer as NA Chief Creative Officer Stevie Archer.   

Also M+C Saatchi Sport + Entertainment announced a new leadership team in the U.S., naming Val Middleton executive vice president for sport, Danielle Mileno as managing director and head of consumer PR, and Alex Osorio as managing director of influencer engagement and culture. 

The agency also recently unveiled its Cultural Power Index, a proprietary AI tool designed to help brands assess and strengthen their interactions with culture.