The strategy board

Emily Vassallo
 Business Director

Emily is responsible for leading and driving key client business across M&C Saatchi Talk’s integrated accounts and has over 10 years’ experience creating engaging and integrated comms programmes for big name consumer brands around the world.

Delivering campaigns, press offices and social activations for everyone from Fujifilm to Foot Locker, Homebase and Pukka Pies, Emily is fascinated by the impact of human behaviour on how they interact with brands and how this can be used to open a whole new conversation.

Career highlights include spending a night in a nuclear bunker to launch a video game (not recommended) and creating INSTAX’s House of Joy ball pit bubble bath (highly recommended).

Outside of M&C Saatchi Talk Emily spends most of her time on DIY, searching for puppies and planning her annual Eurovision party.

Katie Austin
Head of Talent

As Head of Talent, Katie oversees talent acquisition and development within the agency. She has 12 years’ experience in careers development, having worked with many reputable brands and organisations, including Nestlé, BSkyB, Diageo, American Express, De Beers, the RNIB and RNID.

Katie is passionate about developing talent by offering staff guidance, recommendation and hopefully a little inspiration. Having cut her teeth working within a PR account team, her time in talent has seen her working both in-house and agency-side watching the industry evolve over 15 years. The result is her innate understanding of what’s needed in a candidate and how they can build their career. Katie strives to ensure staff become the best they can be, both as individuals and as part of agency life.

Katie’s other passion is for fitness (specifically running) maintaining it empowers her to tackle work, life, motherhood and life’s curveballs! When not training herself, she takes time out to motivate and mentor others taking their first steps on the running ladder.

Will Cooke
Head of Strategy & Creative

 Will is a strategist with an intrinsic curiosity, collaborative mindset, and intense passion for attention-worthy work. He helps brands take an honest approach to problem solving, exploring creative possibilities, and developing ideas with real potency. Combined with his dedication to create meaningful value for business, brand and audience, he has vast and varied experience within agency, brand, start-up, adtech, and media businesses. This has forged a truly integrated approach to communications.   

He’s been fortunate to have spent a career working with the industry’s smartest thinkers, creative makers and innovative doers, crafting remarkable ideas for some of the world’s most remarkable businesses. From documenting hype culture for tech brands to developing brand strategy for store cupboard staples, turning customer service into a competitive advantage in social, to forming a global network of creative advocates. 

Will is always looking for the insight to ensure that we’re not just seen, but shared and talked about. Outside of M&C Saatchi Talk, Will is a distinctly average surfer, cyclist and cook.