https://theprpost.com/post/14894/

Omnicom completes Golin-Ketchum integration, launches unified global PR agency

Omnicom has officially completed the merger of its public relations agencies Golin and Ketchum, unveiling the new global brand Golin Ketchum as part of its broader post-acquisition restructuring following the integration of Interpublic.The newly formed agency brings together more than 2,000 professionals worldwide, positioning it among the largest PR networks globally. The move follows the merger announcement earlier this year and marks a significant step in Omnicom’s efforts to streamline and strengthen its communications portfolio.The combined operation will be led by former Golin chief executive Matt Neale, who assumes the CEO role for Golin Ketchum. Former Ketchum executive Tamara Norman has been appointed president, while Ellen Ryan Mardiks takes on the role of chairman.According to Neale, retaining both legacy names in the new identity was a deliberate decision designed to preserve the reputation and market recognition built by each agency over decades.The merger unites two firms that entered 2026 from contrasting positions. Golin has enjoyed strong growth and industry recognition in recent years, while Ketchum has faced revenue challenges amid wider restructuring across Omnicom's agency network.Regional Leadership StructureThe new organization has announced key regional appointments:Dawn Langeland will oversee North America as president.Jamey Peters becomes president of operations and managing director for the southern US region.Ondine Whittington will lead the UK business.Hortensia Nastase will head continental Europe, overseeing an expanded footprint that now includes Ketchum's German and Austrian operations.Amanda Berenstein will lead Latin America while continuing her responsibilities within Weber Shandwick's Mexico office.While Omnicom recently reorganized its Asia-Pacific operations under a broader regional structure, no specific Golin Ketchum leadership appointments for the region have yet been announced.Strengthening Practice AreasThe agency has also confirmed leadership for several specialist sectors:John Bradbury will lead Corporate Affairs.Michele Murray will head Food, Agriculture and Nutrition.Jaimee Reggio and Samantha Schwarz will jointly oversee the Health practice.Consumer and brand communications remain the agency's largest area of business, complemented by healthcare, corporate affairs, technology, and Ketchum's established food and agriculture expertise.New Executive TeamThe leadership roster includes:Jonny Bentwood – Chief Data & Analytics OfficerJeff Beringer – Chief AI OfficerRob Bernstein – Chief Innovation OfficerGeorge Bryant – Chief Creative OfficerMaxine Enciso – EVP, Inclusion & ImpactPaul Parton – Chief Strategy OfficerCarrie von der Sitt – Chief Growth & Brand OfficerOmnicom confirmed that affiliated agencies including Brooklyn Brothers and DeVries Global will continue operating under their existing brands.Ambitious Vision for GrowthNeale said the merger expands the agency's capabilities and scale, particularly in areas such as corporate affairs, food and agriculture, strategic planning, creative services, and AI-driven communications.He emphasized that executives from both legacy agencies quickly aligned around a shared vision, allowing the integration process to be completed in just five months.The new agency's purpose statement is: "Together, we'll do the best work of our lives and create change that matters."Its four guiding values are centered on bravery, curiosity, collaboration, and ambition balanced with kindness.New Brand IdentityThe visual identity for Golin Ketchum was created internally by the agency's creative teams. The branding introduces a fresh colour palette intended to reflect energy, innovation, and growth, reinforcing the company's commitment to creativity as a key differentiator in the marketplace.Neale described the in-house development of the brand as a reflection of the creative strength that both agencies bring to the newly formed organization, expressing confidence that Golin Ketchum is well positioned to compete as one of the world's leading communications firms in the years ahead.
https://theprpost.com/post/13540/

Omnicom merges Golin and Ketchum; Porter Novelli joins FleishmanHillard

Omnicom has announced a major restructuring within Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG), marking the first significant internal consolidation following the holding company’s acquisition of Interpublic in November.According to an internal memo cited by media sources, Omnicom is merging Golin and Ketchum to create a single brand agency. The combined agency will be led by Golin CEO Matt Neale as chief executive officer, with Ketchum’s Tamara Norman appointed global president. Norman, who became Ketchum’s US CEO in 2024, has been overseeing the region since the departure of former CEO Mike Doyle in July. While integration will take place, reports indicate that Golin and Ketchum will continue to retain their individual brand identities during the transition.In a separate development, Omnicom is folding Porter Novelli into FleishmanHillard. As per reports, Porter Novelli will operate as a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard rather than as an independent agency. In the memo referenced by media outlets, OPRG CEO Chris Foster stated that the two agencies are closely aligned across corporate affairs, reputation management, and purpose and social impact work, and that the move is aimed at improving consistency of delivery across markets.J.J. Carter will continue to serve as CEO of FleishmanHillard, while Porter Novelli CEO Jillian Janaczek will take on the role of Americas CEO, according to reports.The restructuring is expected to be implemented in phases through 2026. Reports state that Omnicom has emphasised continuity for clients and teams, noting that client work will continue without interruption and that existing agency brands, teams, and day-to-day relationships will remain in place.Several agencies within Omnicom’s PR portfolio are not impacted by the changes. According to reports, Weber Shandwick, MMC, and Omnicom’s public affairs firms including DDC Public Affairs, GMMB, FP1 Strategies, Mercury Public Affairs, PLUS Communications, Portland Communications, and VOX Global will continue to operate as they do currently under the same leadership.
https://theprpost.com/post/12831/

Chris Foster to lead combined Omnicom–Interpublic PR powerhouse

Omnicom’s takeover of Interpublic last week has pushed Chris Foster into one of the most influential roles in global communications. Already leading Omnicom Public Relations Group since 2021, he will now guide the combined PR operations of the newly merged holding company.The move brings Interpublic’s flagship PR agencies — Weber Shandwick, Golin and Porter Novelli — into the same network as Omnicom’s FleishmanHillard and Ketchum. All of them will now operate under Foster’s leadership as the two groups come together.A major part of his mandate is to bring the expanded roster onto Omni, Omnicom’s data and intelligence platform that will sit at the heart of the merged communications offering. His job spans aligning workflows, unifying capabilities and smoothing the transition for teams across both companies.The consolidation is being viewed as one of the biggest structural resets in the communications industry in years. With clients placing heavier emphasis on measurable results, AI-driven insights and quicker campaign turnaround, Foster’s expanded remit arrives at a pivotal moment.By stepping into this enlarged leadership role, Foster shifts from running Omnicom’s PR businesses to managing a far broader, cross-holding company network. The merger effectively reshapes the scale and configuration of global PR services, putting him at the centre of its next chapter.
https://theprpost.com/post/8741/

Omnicom PR posts 4.3% revenue growth in Q3 2024

Omnicom saw its PR division achieve a 4.3% revenue growth in Q3 2024, marking the highest increase for the segment in over a year.While Omnicom PR Group ?Çö encompassing FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, and Porter Novelli ?Çö lagged behind the company's advertising & media segment (9.4% growth) and experiential marketing (35.3% growth), it outperformed other areas such as precision marketing (0.8%) and execution & support (0.3%). In comparison, healthcare and branding & retail commerce witnessed revenue declines of 1.1% and 5.4%, respectively.Overall, Omnicom?ÇÖs Q3 2024 revenue jumped by $304.5 million (8.5%) to reach $3.88 billion. The company?ÇÖs global revenue growth was primarily driven by an organic revenue increase of $231.3 million, or 6.5%.Acquisition-related revenue rose by $74.4 million, or 2.1%, largely due to Omnicom?ÇÖs acquisition of Flywheel Digital in the Precision Marketing sector during Q1 2024. Foreign currency fluctuations had no significant impact on revenue.Organic growth in Q3 2024, compared to the same quarter in 2023, varied by region: 6.5% in the U.S., 10.9% in the Asia-Pacific region, 6.8% across Europe, 24.8% in the Middle East and Africa, 8.7% in Latin America, and 1.5% in parts of North America, while the UK saw a slight dip of 0.2%.John Wren, Omnicom?ÇÖs chairman and CEO, commented: "Our cash flow improved, and we continued our very disciplined capital allocation,?Ç¥ he said. ?Ç£With exceptional new business wins and exciting new work for our clients, we expect to finish the year with strong momentum.?Ç¥This quarterly boost for Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) marked its most significant in over a year. After facing three consecutive quarters of declines, OPRG had shown modest improvement with a 0.9% revenue increase in Q2.In Q1, OPRG saw a 1.1% drop in revenue, which followed declines of 2.9% in Q4 2023 and 5.5% in Q3 2023, the latter being the group's first quarterly loss since Q1 2021.Prior to these dips, OPRG experienced consistent growth across eight consecutive quarters, with increases of 5.8% in Q1 2023, 12.7% in Q4 2022, 12.6% in Q3 2022, and double-digit growth throughout much of 2022. This was a significant rebound from the 3.5% drop the group faced in early 2021.
https://theprpost.com/post/6294/

Omnicom PR stumbles in Q1, despite overall company growth

Omnicom's PR arm faced a rough first quarter of 2024, marking its third consecutive decline in revenue. The 1.1% dip comes after a 2.9% drop in Q4 2023 and a steeper 5.5% decline in Q3. This stands in stark contrast to the positive performance of Omnicom as a whole, which saw global revenue rise 4% organically in Q1.PR's struggles were overshadowed by strong growth in other areas. Advertising & media, precision marketing, experiential marketing, and healthcare all saw revenue increases. Conversely, branding & retail commerce and execution & support also experienced losses.Despite the PR group's struggles, Omnicom CEO John Wren remains optimistic. He highlights the company's ability to combine marketing and sales solutions with data-driven insights to deliver measurable results for clients. Wren also credits industry-leading tools and strong leadership for the company's new business success, which fuels his confidence in the future.Looking back, Q1 2024 marks a significant shift from the previous eight quarters of consistent PR growth. Prior to this period, the PR group enjoyed impressive gains, exceeding 4% growth in most quarters. The first quarter of 2021 stands as the last time the group experienced a decline.
https://theprpost.com/post/6271/

Oliver Schrott Kommunikation announces leadership transition

Omnicom agency Oliver Schrott Kommunikation (OSK), a leading German PR and communications firm, today announced a leadership transition. Founder Oliver Schrott, (pictured above), will step down as CEO after 31 years at the helm. Succeeding him will be Christoph Horn, a seasoned communications professional with extensive experience in the automotive and mobility sectors.Schrott will continue to play a valuable role at OSK in the newly established position of non-executive chairman, ensuring a smooth transition and leveraging his vast industry knowledge.Christoph Horn joins OSK from global automotive supplier ZF Group, where he served as SVP of corporate communications. Throughout his 30-year career, Horn has held prominent communications positions at Ford, General Motors, Opel, and Daimler AG, including seven years leading global communications for Mercedes-Benz.Horn expressed his excitement about leading OSK, acknowledging the firm's impressive track record and commitment to innovation. "OSK's ability to stay ahead of the curve through its specialized services and willingness to embrace new ideas makes it an ideal fit for me," he said. "I'm honored to take on this leadership role and serve OSK's clients, its dedicated team, and the broader Omnicom network."Oliver Schrott praised Horn's qualifications and expressed his confidence in the future of OSK. "Christoph is the perfect successor to lead OSK," Schrott stated. "He represents both continuity and the potential for further growth, especially during this period of rapid change within the industry. We share a strong work ethic, high standards, and a passion for pushing boundaries. I look forward to supporting Christoph, the OSK management team, and the entire agency in my new role."Horn will assume leadership alongside COO Michael Kemme and CFO Marc Wolter, both longstanding members of OSK's management team.Headquartered in Cologne with offices in Stuttgart, Berlin, New York, and Beijing, OSK employs approximately 250 communications specialists.