Scarecrow M&C Saatchi completes 9 years; to create cultural IPs, own media

Starting life nine years ago with a team of 7 employees as part of the new wave of independent agencies in India, Scarecrow has had quite an eventful journey. Now christened as Scarecrow M&C Saatchi, post the acquisition by the international network, M&C Saatchi in April 2018, the agency has today grown to a team of 80 people. The agency has also won numerous awards. To start with, it was named ‘The 2nd happiest place to work at’ by a survey conducted by Afaqs and Monster.com. Its conference room showcase is packed with Gold, Silver and Bronze won at AdFest, Spikes Asia, Goafest, Mirchi Kaan and Golden Mikes. 

To celebrate its 9-year journey, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi decided to ride on the popular social media wave by creating its own #NineYearChallenge, providing a glimpse of what has changed – not just in Scarecrow, but also in the lives of Scarecrowites. Apart from the fun facts and trivia, the employees were also asked to share where they see themselves in the next 9 years. 

The next 9 years 

Speaking about where he sees advertising in the next 9 years, Lord Maurice Saatchi, Co-founder, M&C Saatchi, said, “In the last 9 years, advertising has made Google and Facebook worth $1.28 trillion. In the next 9 years, we are going to have a big redistribution of wealth from them to the brilliant people who actually make the advertising. That’s us.” 

On where he sees M&C Saatchi in the next 9 years, Moray MacLennan, Worldwide CEO, M&C Saatchi, said, “In 9 years’ time, M&C Saatchi is going to be home to the creative entrepreneur. We will be known for becoming a place where all entrepreneurs want to be at. We will be turning them down, there will be new sectors, we will be in new geographies, we will be in sectors that don’t even exist right now because M&C Saatchi, the Saatchi brand name is always been known for doing things first. Putting entrepreneur all over and doing things differently for leading the industry and we will be doing that even more in 9 years’ time.” 

Continuing further, MacLennan said, “There’s going to be a lot of change. It’s not necessarily about being bigger, although we will be. I would like to think that in 9 years’ time we will be the most influential creative company in the world.” 

Speaking about advertising in Asia in the next 9 years, Richard Morewood, CEO - Asia, M&C Saatchi, said, “In the next 9-10 years, the Asia region will continue to lead the way in digital and e-commerce, and this will open up huge creative opportunities for agencies. With its depth of talent and entrepreneurial nature, India, in particular, is well placed to take advantage of these opportunities.” 

In the next 9 years, Manish Bhatt, Founder Director, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi, sees technology probably making human kind crippled by offering the carrot of convenience and by showing the stick of a speedy life, and gradually turning our lives into a robotic lifestyle. Adding further, he said, “In that robotic era, in 2028, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi will be the champion in infusing human emotions to brands like no other in our industry, when most brands and their consumers will be craving for the highest level of emotional quotient.” 

For Raghu Bhat, Founder Director, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi, the world is full of possibilities if one knows where to look. “In the past 9 years, we have created a solid foundation. In the next 9 years, we will build on this. Creativity will continue to be our biggest weapon. But its applications and scope will dramatically change. We will create cultural IPs, own media, deep dive into chosen verticals and handle global business,” Bhat added.