M&C Saatchi London has appointed former Marks & Spencer production lead Rachel “Chops” Amess to the newly created role of head of integrated production.
Starting her career at DDB London, Amess has held production roles at leading agencies including VCCP, Droga5, adam&eveDDB, Grey London and AMV BBDO.
Between March 2021 and April 2022, she was film production lead at Marks & Spencer, setting up the retailer’s in-house production capabilities following their move away from a traditional client-agency model. During her time there, she oversaw all production across multiple platforms, including the brand’s acclaimed 2021 Christmas campaign starring Percy Pig (voiced by Tom Holland), as well as the launch of the retailer’s advertiser-funded ITV1 show Cooking with the Stars and YouTube spin-off show, Extra Helpings.
Amess’ other production career highlights include VCCP’s “Meerkats” work for Compare the Market, a domestic violence charity film for FKA Twigs, climate change documentary The Birdman (a finalist at the Tribeca Film Festival), and major campaigns for Lloyds Bank, Volkswagen and Oxfam, among many others.
In her new production leadership role, Amess will report into Guy Bradbury, creative partner, and Matt Lee, executive creative director, while engaging the industry’s best talent and suppliers to further elevate the quality of the agency’s integrated creative output.
In a joint statement, Bradbury and Lee shared, “We are delighted to work with Chops again, helping us raise the quality across everything we deliver for our clients, from film through to fully connected digital content programs.”
Amess said, “I’m joining M&C Saatchi at an exciting time of change, and I believe passionately that production is an essential part of that. I’m looking forward to working closely with Matt and Guy to further elevate the agency’s creative output across integrated platforms, leading a multi-skilled team and working with the industry’s most exciting talent in a collaborative and nimble way. I can’t wait to get my hands dirty, whip things into shape and get shit done.”
M&C Saatchi London has also further boosted its creative department, following its appointment of creative teams Alex Lucas and Jon Farley, and Holly Sutton-Williams and Dan Lacey earlier this year, and the appointment of Max Lowe as an art director and creative partner to Amy Parkhill. Lowe previously spent nearly three years at The Corner and has also had stints at Havas and Gravity Road. His campaigns include the award-winning “It’s Coming Hame” work for Adidas.
