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Melissa Hopkins to head up M&C Saatchi’s Optus business following departure of Chiquita King

Melissa Hopkins

Melissa Hopkins

M&C Saatchi has appointed the former UK-based Vodafone global head of brand marcomms, Melissa Hopkins, to work across the agency’s Optus business following the departure of the former client lead midway through a pitch process.

Hopkins, an Australian, will return to Sydney after more than three years at Vodafone UK where she had responsibility for the brand across 23 global markets.

She departed the telco in 2014 and set up her own own management consultancy business, Brand Collective, which catered for international start-ups and businesses requiring transformation.

Hopkins replaces King at M&C Saatchi who has left to head up DDB’s Telstra business.

Prior to Vodafone, Hopkins had nearly eight years at Publicis London where she held the role of head of account management.

She said: “It is a big move for me to come home to Australia but the opportunity to join such an ambitious and entrepreneurial business as M&C Saatchi coupled with leading one of the largest and innovative brands in Australia was far too compelling to pass up.

“The relationship M&C Saatchi has built with many of its clients is based on a true business partnership and trust that yield the richest insights and best work.  I am thrilled to join such a future facing creative company and delivering that ethos for Optus.”

M&C Saatchi Australia chief executive Jaimes Leggett said: “Melissa’s track record speaks for itself. She is simply world class, having consistently produced amazing results in global roles both client and agency side.

“We are thrilled to have her on board.”

The change of guard on the Optus account comes as M&C Saatchi fights to retain the creative account against a field of contenders thought to include digitally-centred creative agency AKQA, branded content creators Emotive and rival creative agency Ogilvy.

Steve Jones

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