Omnicom Lures Dentsu Executive to Lead OMD Brisbane Growth

OMD Brisbane has appointed Harry Jayaweera as Managing Partner, effective April 15, 2026, marking her return to the Omnicom network after senior leadership roles at competing agency group Dentsu.

Jayaweera Returns to Omnicom After Dual Dentsu Leadership Roles

Jayaweera brings more than 15 years of media experience spanning agency, sales, and consulting roles. She most recently served as Managing Director of both Carat NSW and dentsu X Sydney, two separate agency brands within the Dentsu network, before making the cross-network move to OMD.

During an earlier period at Omnicom Media Group, Jayaweera established and led the group's national Diverse Media division. That unit was built to help clients develop inclusive media strategies to reach Australia's multicultural audiences.

Alison Costello, Managing Director of OMD Brisbane, welcomed the hire directly. "We are incredibly excited to welcome Harry back to OMD. Harry brings an exceptional combination of strategic rigour, commercial leadership and humanity," Costello said. She added that Jayaweera had "quickly immersed herself in the nuances and culture of the local industry" despite being new to Brisbane.

Jayaweera described the move as both familiar and motivating. "Having spent different stages of my career at Omnicom, this move feels both familiar and energising," she said. "The opportunity to call Queensland home at such a pivotal time for the state makes this role even more compelling."

Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Games Cited as Strategic Driver

Costello explicitly connected the appointment to Brisbane's upcoming Olympic Games. "With Brisbane entering a critical growth phase as we look ahead to the 2032 Olympics, I'm looking forward to partnering with Harry to create what's next for our clients," she said.

The appointment is part of a broader leadership rebuild at OMD Brisbane. The restructure followed the departure of long-serving Managing Director Rob Swinton after a 20-year tenure. Costello was subsequently elevated from Chief Transformation Officer to Managing Director. Nathan Fraser was then named Managing Partner, and Jayaweera now joins as a second Managing Partner in that structure.

The Brisbane changes are running parallel to moves in other Australian markets. OMD Australia also appointed Rachel Page as Managing Director of its Melbourne office, effective March 31, replacing Antonia Glezakos. The simultaneous restructuring across Brisbane and Melbourne points to a coordinated national talent strategy.

Brisbane Agency Market Attracts Concurrent Leadership Investment

OMD Brisbane is not the only agency group investing in Queensland senior leadership. Havas Red recently appointed Nicole Streete as Executive Director for Brisbane, covering PR, social, influencer, digital, and experiential services.

At the government procurement level, Queensland's Creative Agency Panel expanded to 45 suppliers through 2030, adding Ogilvy and Dentsu Creative while removing Clemenger BBDO and Redsuit. That structural shift creates both competitive pressure and new opportunity for agencies operating in the Queensland public sector client segment.

OMD Australia has stated its strategic direction centers on digital, data, and technology transformation. Jayaweera's background in data-led planning and her prior work building a national practice unit from the ground up aligns directly with that group-wide mandate.