Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom Group has named OMG CEO EMEA Guy Marks the new CEO of PHD Worldwide. Marks will succeed Philippa Brown in the position.
“Guy is one of our industry’s most entrepreneurial leaders, with an approach that transformed first OMD’s and subsequently Omnicom Media Group’s offering in EMEA over the past six years,” said OMG global CEO Florian Adamski in a statement, adding that Marks has unlocked growth for the agency’s clients and made OMG the top media agency group for net new business in the EMEA region, year-to-date, according to COMvergence.
Adamski also said that Marks was one of the network’s key people coordinating Omnicom’s boots-on-the-ground Ukrainian relief and rescue efforts, which speaks to his leadership skills.
Brown, who has served as PHD’s global CEO since 2019, is stepping down following almost four decades in the media industry—including 16 years in leadership positions with OMG—to focus on non-executive advisory roles at corporate and advocacy levels.
“As CEO, Philippa’s passion for great work that advanced our clients’ business goals was matched by her dedication to helping young talent advance their career goals. After leading the agency through the Covid crisis, she brought PHD back stronger than ever, earning Media Network of the Year honors at the 2021 Cannes Festival,” said Adamski.
Adamski also said that Brown was instrumental in winning Diageo, Chanel, Unilever and the $300 million Grupo Bimbo account. She also launched and oversaw OMG’s talent management community, an initiative offering professional development across the entire career life cycle.
“We are deeply grateful for her tireless leadership, creative vision, and unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of her clients and her people, and we wish her all the best as she redirects her singular energy, experience, and expertise to an exciting new chapter in her career,” Adamski said of Brown.
Marks joined OMG in 2014 following Omnicom’s acquisition of Mobile5, the global UX, design and tech consultancy service that he co-founded. As CEO of OMG EMEA, he helped establish Omnicom’s Transact connected commerce and retail media consultancy in the region; and co-architected the expansion of OMG’s TRKKN analytics and cloud consultancy from five European countries to 20 markets across APAC, EMEA and North America.
“The thread that can be pulled through all my professional experience is driving growth through transformation,” said Marks in a statement. “As the CEO of PHD, my priority will be assuring that every PHD account team around the world have the talent, tools, technology and collective commitment to excellence they need to deliver the transformative ideas, solutions and service that drive growth for our clients, our agency and our people.”
Marks, who begins his new positions October 1, will be headquartered in London, reporting to Adamski. His successor as leader of OMG EMEA is expected to be named next week.