Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney executive creative director, Rebecca Carrasco, will depart early next year to complete her PhD, after three years in the role.

She will not be replaced. Instead, Saatchi & Saatchi chief creative officer. Mike Spirkovski. will step in to work more closely with the agency’s Sydney creative directors, Michael Barnfield, Sam Chappell, Piero Ruzzene and Flavio Fonseca.

Carrasco joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 2018 as deputy executive creative director. She was promoted to executive creative director in August last year. Carrasco had previously been head of creative shop for Facebook and Instagram in Australia and New Zealand from 2015 and before that, a creative director at Clemenger BBDO Sydney. Before Clemenger, Carrasco was co-founder and executive creative director at Colman Rasic Carrasco.

Anthony Gregorio, chief executive officer, Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, commented, “Rebecca is a true professional and an amazing person, and we’re sad to see her go. Her commitment to her PhD in identifying the value that creative ideas make to business means we can still take advantage of her brilliant mind in the future. We wish her all the best.”

Spirkovski added, “I personally want to thank Bec for the contribution she has made to Saatchi & Saatchi as ECD, helping to manage the creative department over the last three years. I know everyone at the agency will miss her dearly and will want to thank her individually, so we’re grateful to have Bec with us until the end of the year.”

Carrasco stated, “I’ve really enjoyed working alongside some great clients and colleagues at Saatchi, and in The Neighbourhood, but I’ve long-held a plan to return to my PhD on The Value of Creative Ideas, and with so much change in our industry, now is the time to finish it. I thank Spirko, Ant and Mike Rebelo for all the opportunities over the past few years, and for being supportive of my decision. I hope our paths cross again when it’s done.”