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Wunderman Thompson has promoted its global customer leader for Coca-Cola, Sasan (Sas) Saeidi CEO of its flagship New York office. The role was previously held by Audrey Melofchik who was elevated to CEO of North America in December 2021.
“We have been on an unstoppable mission for Wunderman Thompson New York to become the beacon of inspiration within our network, for our clients and for the industry at large,” Melofchik said in a statement. “Sas is a magnet for culture, creativity and people. He is a recognized leader within the global Wunderman Thompson network and an embodiment of our brand. He cares deeply about our people, our clients, and creates work that inspires growth.”
Saeidi joined the Wunderman Thompson network in 2017 leading the Gulf region and became Nestlé’s global customer leader. Most recently, he was global customer leader for Coca-Cola, following the WPP OpenX win. He will continue to oversee the Coca-Cola business from New York.
Before joining Wunderman Thompson, Saeidi was Group General Manager at FP7 McCann. Prior to that, he held strategy and account management roles at BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi-Canada and FCB.
Saeidi is tasked with accelerating the bureau’s momentum. New York is said to be Wunderman Thompson’s biggest market, and is currently experiencing a noticeable growth surge, following the buzz of the Super Bowl ad for Hellmann’s featuring Pete Davidson. Throughout the year, Wunderman Thompson New York won eight new accounts, boosting its B2B and consumer business by 11% and organically expanding its pharmaceutical business, including the Pfizer and Jansen portfolios.
“There is nothing more important in our business today than taking care of our people and making sure they belong to a winning culture. Motivated people will create great ideas and experiences every day, which in turn will drive growth for our customers,” Saeidi said in a statement. “I look forward to being a force for good in this process, shooting for the moon, and helping Wunderman Thompson New York become the best agency in the world.”
Beyond work, Saeidi is studying for his Masters in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Business, from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and is currently IAA’s Global Senior Vice President, set to take on the role of President and Worldwide Chairman in November 2022.
