Buckland exits Creative Spark, M&C Saatchi Group

by Herman Manson (@marklives) Matthew Buckland has exited Creative Spark, the digital agency he launched, and taken its news and media division, Burn Media, with him. Buckland also leaves his role of chief executive: digital at M&C Saatchi Group in South Africa but will continue to consult for Creative Spark on some of its key clients.

Creative Spark is a digital agency with approximately 70 staff in Cape Town and Johannesburg; clients include Danone, Medscheme, Kimberly-Clark, Gautrain and EOH. Burn Media includes memeburn.com, ventureburn.com, gearburn.com and motorburn.com. The M&C Saatchi group acquired Creative Spark in 2015.

Tanja Lategan, the former CEO of Primedia Online, was appointed managing director of Creative Spark in late 2017, when Buckland took on the group role at M&C Saatchi.

“Matthew has always been hugely passionate about the Burn Media business which he founded a number of years ago, so I was not surprised by his decision to focus more fully on this,” said Mike Abel, chief executive and founder of the M&C Saatchi Abel Group, in a media statement. “Bringing in Tanja as managing director last year has allowed him to completely let go of running Creative Spark, and to reimmerse himself in his innovative media company. I have little doubt that both Creative Spark and Burn Media will continue on their trajectories of success, by offering their clients outstanding work, thinking, and service.”

Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.

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