Sydney, Australia – Media agency network OMD in Australia has just announced a new co-CEO leadership structure through the promotion of Laura Nice and Sian Whitnall as new co-CEOs of the agency, effective immediately.
OMD has long had a people strategy of developing and promoting staff from within, and follows the agency’s continued stability to OMD’s people, clients, and partners, with significant new business wins and key client retention alongside industry award recognition.
Nice and Whitnall will take overall responsibility for OMD assets nationally, leading a workforce of more than 600 people.
Nice first joined OMD Australia in 2012 as a business director for their Telstra account. In 2014, Nice returned home to the UK where she took up the role of group head at Vizeum, followed by head of consultancy and development for Omnicom Media Group’s Annalect. She returned to Australia in 2019 as OMD Sydney’s joint managing director.
“As an ‘OMD Boomeranger’ I know firsthand the benefits of working for a culture as strong as OMD Australia’s. To be given the opportunity to lead the next chapter with Sian is a proud moment, as we strive to build on OMD’s current success and momentum. Personally, I’m excited to focus on the depth and breadth of our client relationships and identify growth opportunities for our people to further develop their capability and evolve our offering for the future,” Nice stated regarding her appointment.
Meanwhile, Whitnall first joined OMD in 2013 as an interactive director, with her most recent role being OMD Australia’s chief digital officer. Her digital transformation initiative, OMD Navigate, has driven strong business results for OMD and their clients.
“I feel so passionately about OMD so it’s an absolute privilege for Laura and myself to be given the opportunity to lead the agency. I am excited to continue working alongside OMD’s incredible talent, to grow the capability within the brand and to drive growth for our clients in areas that will have the most impact for their businesses,” Whitnall said.
Speaking about the new promotions, Peter Horgan, CEO at Omnicom Media Group ANZ, commented, “They have been fundamental to OMD’s ongoing growth and success over recent years and are embedded across all areas of the business. Together, their complementary skill sets and ability to work as a team, is exactly what OMD needs for the future of our business. OMD has a history of success with leadership partnerships and given the size and scale of OMD Australia, there is no better time to revisit this winning formula.”
