New president, CEO at Saatchi & Saatchi Canada
By Adnews Staff
Saatchi & Saatchi Canada of Toronto has appointed Stuart Payne president and chief executive officer, while Brett Channer has moved to the position chairman and executive creative director. According to the agency, Channer will manage the creative side of Saatchi & Saatchi Canada, while Payne will oversee the business side after he officially joins the firm in September. Payne has spent the last 18 years at Toyota Canada, most recently as director of its Lexus division and a member of its executive committee. Channer joined Saatchi & Saatchi Canada in 2004 as executive vice-president and creative director. He became chief executive officer and executive creative director in 2005. Prior to joining Saatchi, Channer worked at J. Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam, Gee Jeffery & Partners, TBWA Chiat Day and DMBB. "With new work being asked of us by several clients including Sony Ericsson and Wendy's, we were at a place where I found it necessary to bring on a business partner," said Channer. "I have been aggressively looking for someone for the past six months. Stuart Payne brings a wealth of relevant business experience that will allow me to oversee the creative direction of Saatchi & Saatchi Canada."