Aussie expat David Hackworthy named worldwide chief strategy officer at Saatchi & Saatchi + Fallon

Aussie expat David Hackworthy, the chief strategy officer at Fallon London, has been named worldwide CSO of the Saatchi & Saatchi and Fallon networks.

He joins Robert Senior, the recently appointed CEO worldwide, and Pablo del Campo, the worldwide creative director, on the global leadership team for the agency groups.

In his new role, Hackworthy will provide strategic leadership and direction across the network as well as working on key clients and new business.

Across his career, Hackworthy has built extensive experience with international agencies and on global brands, and has spent equal periods of his working life in Australia, the USA and the UK.

After a dual degree in Law and Commerce from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Hackworthy started out in brand management before going agency side in his native Australia.

In Australia in the 90s, the account director-turned-planner worked at DMB&B/Weeks Morris Osborn where he worked on Clearasil and Vicks. Later he was offered a top role at The Campaign Palace, but instead decided to head to DMB&B New York as a planner on Procter & Gamble and later CSO at TBWA Chiat /Day New York, before moving to the UK as CSO of DDB London. In 2006, he left to co-found integrated creative agency The Red Brick Road, joining Fallon London in 2013.

Over this time, he has worked on multiple global businesses including Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Mars Philips, Absolut and Heineken.

Hackworthy will be based in London, and retain overall strategic responsibility for Fallon London as part of his role. While maintaining involvement with Fallon clients, he will also recruit a head of planning for Fallon London to work into him and CEO Gareth Collins.

Says Senior: “David is one of the biggest strategic brains in the business. This, along with his unique experience of working all over the world, makes him the ideal partner for myself and Pablo as we look ahead to a new era for Saatchi & Saatchi.

“Working across three continents has given me what I think is unique experience of international planning, and I relish the chance to put this perspective into practice, in partnership with Robert and Pablo. The Saatchi & Saatchi “Nothing is Impossible” spirit is a particular passion of mine, and I can’t wait to get started.”