M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment Evolves Leadership Team to Accelerate International Growth

Jul. 23, 2026

M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment today announces the promotion of Ross Watson to Managing Director for Sport UK alongside Laura Coller's appointment as Global Chief Operating Officer, a newly expanded role she will hold while continuing as UK CEO.

As brands increasingly seek globally connected solutions delivered with local market expertise and sharp specialist capabilities, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment is evolving its leadership team and operating model to meet the growing needs of clients around the world, enhancing its integrated 360 capabilities across sponsorship, partnerships, PR and communications, social, creator, experiential and content production.

The appointments reflect the agency's ambition to operate as a truly global network, bringing together specialist centres of excellence, market-leading strategic expertise and integrated delivery teams across its international footprint, which is headquartered in London with offices across North America, Europe and the Middle East. This model enables clients to access the best talent across the business, regardless of geography, while benefiting from consistent delivery, streamlined communications and deeper collaboration between markets.

Laura Coller, UK CEO and Global Chief Operating Officer, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, said:

“At a time when global sport and entertainment properties are reaching unprecedented audience sizes, investment in sport continues to accelerate, and fan communities are increasingly interconnected, brands require agency partners that can think laterally while executing with deep local knowledge. Our clients recognise that culture transcends borders and that it is shared passions- not traditional demographics like age, gender or location- that unite audiences today. My goal is to operate as a more connected global business to provide clients with the very best of M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, wherever they are in the world, whilst maintaining the agility and entrepreneurial spirit that defines the culture of our agency.”

 

Ross Watson, who has been with the agency for 12 years having joined as an account manager in 2014, oversees a portfolio of Sport clients including adidas, Heineken and Betway. As Coller expands her global responsibilities, Watson will drive day-to-day leadership of the UK business, continuing to drive the agency's sport offering and  helping clients unlock the commercial opportunities emerging across the rapidly evolving landscape. He will continue to report into Coller.

Ross Watson, Managing Director, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, said:

"Sport has never been more culturally influential or commercially valuable, and brands that understand how to harness that cultural power are seeing extraordinary returns. Our agency has been at the forefront of some of the most creative and memorable campaigns in sport in recent times and the opportunity to continue shaping best-in-class work, and building the team to deliver it, is an exciting challenge.”

 

Robin Clarke, Global CEO, M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, said:

"These appointments are about more than recognising two exceptional leaders, they are about stepping into the next stage in the evolution of our business. Ross will continue to strengthen our leadership in sport at a time of extraordinary market opportunity, while Laura has built an outstanding UK operation that has been central to strengthening our global position. Together, they position us to better serve clients in an increasingly global marketplace."

 

Coller will continue to report into Clarke as part of the new structure.

The agency was recently named Agency of the Year at the UK Sponsorship Awards and is celebrating a run of new client wins including Hugo Boss, Riot Games and Carlyle. It also recently launched its new social offer, M+C Saatchi Social House, with a proprietary measurement framework that seeks to move audiences from cultural passion to active participation; the agency's new benchmark for meaningful consumer engagement.

The appointments are effective immediately.