Saatchi & Saatchi appoints Leif Stromnes as chief strategy officer

Saatchi & Saatchi appoints Leif Stromnes as chief strategy officer across Australia and New Zealand, bolstering the agency’s leadership across both markets ahead of 2026.

Stromnes will oversee senior strategy teams in Sydney and Melbourne, driving growth-focused strategy, communications planning and the application of AI. He will work closely with chief creative officers Mandie van der Merwe and Avish Gordhan.

“Strategy is the foundation of everything we do, and Leif brings a wealth of experience and a future-focused mindset that will help us unlock even greater creative impact for our clients,” CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Australia Patrick Rowe, said. “Plus, he’s a lovely human and a lot of fun.”

Stromnes has more than 30 years’ experience across South Africa, Australia, Asia and the US, and has worked on brands including Unilever, McDonald’s, Arnott’s, Tourism Australia, Westpac, Virgin Airlines, Volkswagen, Coles, Mars, Kmart and Telstra.

“I’m thrilled to be joining such a storied and acclaimed creative agency in our region,” he said. “With the power of Publicis Groupe behind us, I’m excited to see how we can truly unlock the ‘Nothing is Impossible’ mantra for our clients and business.”

The appointment follows a strong year for Saatchi & Saatchi’s strategy discipline, including eight Australian Effie Awards. Stromnes will also hold a leadership remit in New Zealand, working with executive strategy director Tim Cullihane.

He starts in January.