Finance
CEO of UK ad group M&C saatchi to step down, sky news reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 7, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 7, 2026
Quick Summary
Zaid Al‑Qassab, who became CEO of M&C Saatchi on May 13, 2024, is stepping down after under two years in the role, according to Sky News—which Reuters has yet to confirm.
M&C Saatchi CEO to step down in the coming weeks, Sky News reports
Leadership Change and Company Outlook
CEO Zaid Al-Qassab's Departure
March 7 (Reuters) - The CEO of British advertising group M&C Saatchi Zaid Al-Qassab is to step down in the coming weeks after less than two years in the job, Sky News reported on Saturday.
Verification and Company Response
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. M&C Saatchi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Announcement Timeline and Succession Planning
The company plans to announce the news next week, Sky News reported. M&C Saatchi said in December 2025 that succession planning was under review by the board, after noting media speculation relating to the CEO.
Background on Zaid Al-Qassab
Al-Qassab, formerly the chief marketing officer at Channel 4, was appointed in February 2024.
Company Performance and Industry Context
Financial Forecast and Growth
London-listed M&C Saatchi forecast profitable growth this year in January, supported by new client wins and cost savings.
Global Advertising Industry Challenges
Advertising groups globally have been grappling with reduced client spending and delayed contracts as companies prioritise investments like artificial intelligence amid ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Jan Harvey)
Key Takeaways
- •Zaid Al‑Qassab, former CMO at Channel 4, took over as M&C Saatchi CEO on May 13, 2024 (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Under his leadership, M&C Saatchi refocused on higher‑margin specialisms, achieving a strong performance in 2024 with operating profit up nearly 295% (campaignasia.com)
- •The company had forecast a challenging 2025 with lower revenue but expected profitable growth in 2026; his departure comes amidst this transition phase (morningstar.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about CEO of UK ad group M&C Saatchi to step down, Sky News reports
1Who is stepping down as CEO of M&C Saatchi?
Zaid Al-Qassab is stepping down as CEO of M&C Saatchi.
2How long did Zaid Al-Qassab serve as CEO of M&C Saatchi?
He served as CEO for less than two years.
3Which news outlet reported Zaid Al-Qassab's departure?
Sky News reported Zaid Al-Qassab's departure.
4Has Reuters verified the news about the M&C Saatchi CEO stepping down?
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.