M+C Saatchi Group UK appoints industry powerhouse Lisa Carrana as Executive Head of Art

Lisa brings more than 25 years of design experience, with a career spanning branding, advertising and integrated campaigns for some of the world’s most recognised brands. She has delivered award-winning work for Adidas, Just Eat, Xbox, Vodafone, Chivas Regal, Sky and eBay.

She joins from Dentsu Creative, where she was UK head of design with a focus on nurturing talent and driving cultural initiatives, and previously spent almost eight years at McCann London, rising from design director to head of design and working closely with our current joint global chief creative officers, Robert Doubal and Laurence 'Lolly' Thomson.

In her new role, Lisa will define and uphold the Group’s visual identity and artistic standards, ensuring that M+C Saatchi sets the benchmark for craft across the industry. She will lead and mentor design talent, inspire creative ambition, and bring together art directors, designers, illustrators, photographers and other specialists to deliver standout work. Lisa will work across every channel – from film and print to digital, social and experiential – embedding craft at the heart of the Group’s Cultural Power proposition and ensuring every execution is both visually distinctive and culturally resonant. She will report to Rob and Lolly.

“Having worked with Lisa before, we know what an incredible powerhouse she is — her energy, passion, and creative instinct are second to none," Lolly told LBB. "She has a rare ability to bring brands to life across every platform, from moving image to bold, immersive, design-led worlds. Her track record with brands like Just Eat, Microsoft, Xbox, and Vodafone speaks for itself.

"Lisa’s appointment strengthens our mission to build brands that truly connect," he continued. "The kind of ideas that go beyond advertising and become part of culture. We’re thrilled to have her join us as executive head of art to help push that ambition even further. Watch this space.”

Noting the ways in which her approach to work suits his agency, he added: "Lisa’s always thinking ahead — her work looks great and it’s also built on a real understanding of how people connect with brands today, whether that’s online, in real life, or popping up somewhere brand new. M+C Saatchi has always been about big cultural ideas that move people, and Lisa just cranks that up — her eye for visuals and storytelling brings emotion, energy, and a whole new level of craft."

Lolly's also excited to bring her into the team for her spirit, not just her professional talents. "Lisa’s got an energy that’s impossible to miss — she lights up the room and lifts everyone around her," he said. "Her joie-de vivre and team spirit inspire people to go further and think bigger. Clients love her because she listens, gets what matters, and turns that into work that’s visually brilliant and totally in tune with culture. She just has that natural knack for connecting people and ideas across the business."

From a leadership perspective, Lisa is known for rolling up her sleeves and setting an example, "She sets the bar high but makes sure everyone’s right there with her," says Lolly. "She’s brilliant at spotting and growing new talent, always pushing people to experiment and take creative risks. She gets that great work comes from emotion, culture, and craft working in harmony. With her at the helm, we’ll see a new wave of bold, human, M+C Saatchi work. Plus, she’s got great taste in sneakers."

Lisa's appointment comes at a time when more UK creative agencies are making moves to shore up their design craft capabilities. "Design and craft are vitally important to us," says Lisa. "We have a diverse pool of talent which brings fabulous energy to every project, and we have a restless nature - always looking for new ways to deliver work. It’s not just about making things look good, it’s about the intent, precision and care that gives an idea real edge. In a world overloaded with content, craft is what cuts through and makes work difficult to ignore. Design can help a good idea become a great one. It's essential to get the tone right. Creating work that sets trends and doesn’t copy them is key."

Just a few months into the agency group's 'Cultural Power' repositioning and still in the first year of Rob and Lolly's global creative leadership, Lisa sums up the direction she sees M+C Saatchi travelling in with her appointment: "We believe that design craft is where the story really lands. It’s the difference between something that passes people by and something that sticks. The rhythm, the balance, the small but deliberate choices, these are what signal quality and build trust. In a market that’s moving faster than ever, that kind of impact isn’t optional - it’s essential. Designers are integral to our creative output and help us tap into culture."