U.S.A. – Following last year’s Omnicom–IPG merger, Omnicom Public Relations (OPR) is restructuring its portfolio, merging Golin and Ketchum and integrating Porter Novelli within FleishmanHillard.
In a memo seen by MARKETECH APAC, OPR said the Omnicom-IPG acquisition “created an opportunity for OPR to define what a modern PR and communications organisation should look like” and that the changes mark OPR’s “next phase of evolution”.
As part of the restructuring, global PR agency Golin, which was with IPG prior to the merger, and global communications consultancy Ketchum from Omnicom, will merge to create a single, premier brand communications agency with integrated offerings across brand communications, health, and social and digital innovation. Matt Neale will serve as CEO of the combined organisation, with Tamara Norman as global president.
Meanwhile, Porter Novelli will become a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard, connecting teams and shared offerings to give clients faster access to deeper expertise globally. OPR noted that Porter Novelli and FleishmanHillard are uniquely aligned given their strengths in corporate affairs, reputation, purpose, and social impact. J.J. Carter will continue to lead FleishmanHillard as CEO, with Jillian Janaczek serving as Americas CEO.
In a separate announcement on its official website, FleishmanHillard said the integration reflects a strategic priority to deliver deeper sector expertise, faster global solutions, and more precise counsel for mission-critical work.
The agency now operates with expanded talent and specialisation across key growth sectors, forming one of the industry’s most comprehensive communications consultancies with pronounced strength across health and life sciences, technology, financial and professional services, social impact and ESG, and the public sector and public affairs.
“The planned changes OPR announced on Monday will be implemented in phases through 2026. During the transition, clients in APAC will continue to work with the agency brands they know, with continuity of day-to-day teams and relationship leadership prioritised as implementation details are finalised,” an OPR spokesperson told MARKETECH APAC.
In the memo, OPR also assured that while there will be structural changes, client work will continue without interruption. Clients will keep working with the agency brands they know, with the same teams and day-to-day relationships.
Furthermore, Weber Shandwick, MMC, and OPR’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 under the same leadership.
