Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand has strengthened its creative leadership structure with the promotion of Lee Sunter to Group Executive Creative Director and the appointment of Steve Cochran as Creative Chair, a strategic move aimed at reinforcing the agency’s creative direction while preparing it for its next phase of growth.

The leadership changes, which take effect immediately, reflect the agency’s commitment to nurturing internal talent, sustaining creative excellence and equipping the business to meet the evolving demands of clients and the marketplace.

In his new position, Sunter will oversee the agency’s creative operations, lead multidisciplinary creative teams, deepen client partnerships and drive work that combines strategic thinking with culturally relevant ideas capable of delivering measurable brand impact.

Meanwhile, Cochran transitions from his previous role as Chief Creative Officer into the newly positioned role of Creative Chair, where he will focus on providing strategic counsel to both clients and the agency’s leadership while supporting long-term creative direction.

Announcing the appointments, Publicis Groupe ANZ Chief Creative Officer Dave Bowman described the changes as an important step in strengthening the agency’s creative ambitions.

According to him, exceptional work is built on strong leadership, disciplined execution and an unwavering commitment to creative excellence.

Bowman praised Sunter’s ability to combine craftsmanship, strategic thinking and cultural insight, noting that his contribution has already played a significant role in delivering some of the agency’s most celebrated and award-winning campaigns.

He added that the new leadership structure also ensures the agency continues to benefit from Cochran’s wealth of experience while creating room for a new generation of creative leadership to flourish.

Sunter brings more than 17 years of creative leadership experience across some of Australia and New Zealand’s most respected advertising agencies.

Before taking up the role of Executive Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand in January 2023, he spent nearly five years as Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, where he led campaigns for major brands including Apple, Toyota, Visit Victoria, Bank of Melbourne, Devondale, the City of Melbourne, Aboriginal Victoria, the Koorie Heritage Trust and the Royal Australian Mint.

Earlier in his career, he spent more than seven years at Clemenger BBDO, progressing from Senior Creative to Creative Director while delivering work for brands such as SEEK, Mercedes-Benz, National Australia Bank (NAB), Carlton United Breweries, Mars Chocolate, Snickers, Bonds, MYER and La Trobe University.

He also held senior creative roles at DDB Group Australia, where he worked on accounts including McDonald’s, Heinz, Cadbury and Australia New Zealand Bank (ANZ), and at Y&R ANZ, serving clients such as the Australian Defence Force, Schweppes and the RSPCA.

Recognised for his strengths in creative strategy and art direction, Sunter has built a reputation for developing commercially effective campaigns that combine compelling storytelling with strategic insight.

Reflecting on his promotion, he described the appointment as both an honour and a responsibility, expressing enthusiasm about leading a team driven by passion, collaboration and creative excellence.

He said his priority is to foster an environment where creative talent feels empowered to challenge one another, explore fresh ideas and produce career-defining work.

According to him, every campaign should be intentional, meticulously crafted and capable of earning genuine consumer attention rather than simply adding to the growing volume of marketing messages.

He stressed that the agency’s focus is not on pursuing a particular creative style but on consistently raising the quality benchmark for every piece of work it delivers.

At the same time, Cochran welcomed his transition into the Creative Chair position, saying the new role provides an opportunity to continue supporting both clients and colleagues from a broader strategic perspective.

He expressed confidence in Sunter’s leadership and the agency’s creative team, adding that he looks forward to providing guidance as Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand continues to build on its creative momentum and strengthen its reputation in an increasingly competitive communications landscape.

The appointments underscore Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand’s broader strategy of combining leadership continuity with fresh creative energy as the agency positions itself for sustained innovation, stronger client partnerships and long-term growth.