Toby Talbot is leaving Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand after nearly three years as chief creative officer. Talabot will leave in March and eventually move to Europe to take up a regional role which has not yet been revealed. Talbot joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 2017 from DDB Sydney where he was chief creative officer.

In his 25+ years in the industry in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, he has also held senior roles at Colenso BBDO, DDB New Zealand, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R in London, Whybin\TBWA and Assignment in New Zealand.

Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand managing director, Paul Wilson, stated, “While it will be sad to say goodbye to my good friend and creative partner, I completely understand Toby’s desire to be nearer to his family. He leaves the agency in good hands. We’ve got a strong group of creative leaders in Corey, Kristal and Jordan, some great new talent and a reinvigorated creative department. We wish him all the best and thank him for his contribution.”

Talbot added, “It’s with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to the incredible Saatchi whanau, but the truth is, my wife Jo and I have wanted to be closer to our daughters and family in the UK for some time. I’m proud of the agency I’m leaving behind. I will miss our clients, our inclusive culture and of course, the name on the door. The agency mantra, Nothing is Impossible, has always been, and will always be, a great inspiration to me. Thanks for everything Saatchi.”

Talbot is currently the No. 2 ECD in the world on the global Bestadsontv creative rankings over the last 17 years. He has won numerous local and international awards including Campaign Asia’s Creative of the Year for Australia and New Zealand. He was also behind the most awarded mobile campaign in the world in 2017, #comeonin, for Sydney Opera House, and led the creative and digital renaissance of DDB Sydney, Australia’s most awarded agency at Cannes in 2017 with 12 Lions.

Saatchi & Saatchi has begun a global search for Talbot’s replacement.