Saatchi chief’s future in doubt as agency talks to heavyweights

Speculation is mounting about the future of Saatchi & Saatchi UK chief Lee Daley after it emerged that several leading advertising figures have been approached about a senior role at the agency.

Speculation is mounting about the future of Saatchi & Saatchi UK chief Lee Daley after it emerged that several leading advertising figures have been approached about a senior role at the agency.

Sources say that at least two industry heavyweights have been in talks with executives at the Publicis Groupe-owned London network.

Daley (pictured), who joined Saatchi & Saatchi in October 2004, is group chairman and chief executive in the UK. He denies the agency is looking to recruit someone and says he is not leaving.

The rumours come after a lacklustre year for Saatchi & Saatchi. Despite setting up several new divisions, including branded entertainment unit Gum, Daley has failed to win any significant pieces of new business. The agency made the shortlists for easyJet and the Post Office among others but failed to convert – its only win of note being the &£7m Standard Life demutualisation brief.

Daley is a former global chief executive of WPP’s Red Cell network and replaced Kevin Dundas at the helm of Saatchi & Saatchi in London. Dundas was made worldwide strategy director and works closely with the network’s chief executive Kevin Roberts, who could not be reached for comment as Marketing Week went to press.