M&C Saatchi is exiting Australia after 30 years, ending a steep decline that industry insiders describe as a "sudden fall from grace" driven by a cascading loss of major clients. The Sydney office, opened in 1995 by the agency founded after Maurice and Charles Saatchi split from Saatchi & Saatchi, became one of Australia's most influential creative shops, but the closure means the loss of a business that shaped major campaigns and launched many advertising careers.

Optus, Commonwealth Bank and Tourism Australia all departed over the past two years, and Woolworths, the last major client, is due to leave in November for Droga5. Insiders said the agency was "pretty healthy" as recently as four years ago before the exit of key staff triggered a domino effect of client losses, and it eventually stopped pitching for accounts such as Woolworths and Australian Retirement Trust, which went instead to rival Saatchi & Saatchi. Recent Glassdoor reviews from staff had already flagged concerns about a lack of work.