Omnicom Names Ellen Griffin Global Brand President of OMD

Omnicom Media has appointed Ellen Griffin as Global Brand President of OMD, its flagship media agency network, effective immediately. The announcement, made on March 17, 2025, follows the completion of Omnicom's US$13 billion acquisition of IPG in late November 2025.

Griffin succeeds George Manas, who has moved to Omnicom as Chief Growth and Solutions Officer.

A New Title Signals a New Structure

The "Global Brand President" designation is newly introduced across all Omnicom Media agency networks, replacing the previous "Global CEO" title. The change is a direct result of the IPG merger, which created the world's largest advertising holding company with US$73.5 billion in combined billings.

Omnicom-IPG Merger Cuts 4,000 Jobs, Compresses APAC Executive Pay

The Omnicom-IPG merger is eliminating senior advertising roles across Asia and compressing executive pay by up to 60% as the combined company pursues US$750M in savings.

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Omnicom Media is now retaining six global media networks under this unified leadership model: OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science, Initiative, UM, and Mediahub.

Florian Adamski, CEO of Omnicom Media, praised Manas' four-year tenure, saying he "strengthened OMD's position as a leading global media agency." Adamski expressed confidence in Griffin's ability to use Omnicom Media's strengths in scale, data, and talent going forward.

Griffin's Track Record at OMD

Griffin joined OMD in 2018 as Global Innovation Director. She later became the agency's first-ever Global Chief Operating Officer, overseeing its operating model and client service capabilities worldwide.

In her previous role as Global Chief Client Solutions Officer, Griffin drove more than US$2.5 billion in new business using the Omni Intelligence Platform, a data tool that creates customized solutions for clients. Her client work spans major global brands including McDonald's, PepsiCo, and The Clorox Company.

In her new role, Griffin will oversee strategy, capabilities, and client service solutions globally. "By connecting insights, platforms, data and media strategy, we help clients anticipate change, unlock new opportunities for growth and act with confidence in an increasingly dynamic landscape," she said.

APAC Leadership Restructuring Runs in Parallel

The Griffin appointment is one of several concurrent leadership changes across the Omnicom network. In Asia Pacific, Omnicom Media has executed a broad leadership restructuring across at least eight markets simultaneously, under regional CEO Tony Harradine.

Charlotte Lee has been named President of OMD within APAC, directly mirroring Griffin's global brand president model. Joey Zhao has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Omnicom Media China while retaining his role as CEO of PHD China. Melissa Chan has been named CEO of Omnicom Production for APAC, reporting to global CEO Sergio Lopez.

Market-level appointments span Australia, India, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Japan is a notable exception, with IPG's Matt Ware retained as CEO, signaling that local market relationships are being prioritized in select cases.

Post-Merger Pressure Frames the Mandate

The broader context for Griffin's appointment includes a significant cost reduction program. Omnicom has doubled its post-IPG cost savings target to US$1.5 billion, up from an initial US$750 million. The restructuring has resulted in more than 7,200 total job cuts across both organizations, alongside US$240 million in targeted real estate savings.

OMD under Manas won Media Network of the Year at Cannes Lions three times, including consecutive wins in 2024 and 2025, while leading RECMA rankings for media agency performance. Griffin now inherits that brand position as the organization navigates its largest structural change in its history.