John D. Wren

Mr. Wren is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom. He was named Chief Executive Officer in 1997 and elected Chairman in 2018. Mr. Wren also served as President of Omnicom for 22 years, having been appointed to that role in 1996. Under his direction, Omnicom has become a premier global provider of data-inspired, creative marketing and sales solutions and has achieved status as a world-class company with one of the best corporate and divisional management leadership teams in our industry. Mr. Wren was part of the team that created Omnicom in 1986, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom’s DAS Group of Companies division in 1990.

Through the positions he has held at Omnicom and its networks, Mr. Wren possesses a combination of broad strategic vision and extensive industry knowledge that is fundamental to the Board’s oversight role and uniquely positions him to serve as Chairman. Mr. Wren’s comprehension of Omnicom, its businesses, its clients and its people is invaluable to the Board’s mix of skills and enables him to provide critical insights to the Board. Mr. Wren has designed and implemented a significant organizational realignment of Omnicom’s businesses and management, and his leadership in the boardroom greatly enhances the Board’s ability to oversee the development of strategy and guide Omnicom’s future success in an industry that is experiencing rapid change, disruption and market-wide technological advancements.

As the former Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom’s DAS Group of Companies division, Mr. Wren has tremendous advertising, marketing and corporate communications experience. Under his leadership, the DAS Group of Companies grew to become Omnicom’s largest operating group, comprised of companies in a wide array of communication disciplines ranging from public relations to branding. Mr. Wren’s deep understanding of the industry gained through his extensive experience, long-term relationships he has developed with key clients, and his relationships with key management around the world contribute to robust Board discussions on a variety of topics central to Omnicom’s success, including identifying competitive advantages, retaining top talent and navigating relationships with Omnicom’s most important clients.

Mr. Wren is also a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, and as such, he has direct exposure to the dynamic issues facing a myriad of international companies. This exposure is a valuable asset to Omnicom and enhances the Board’s ability to judiciously oversee management of Omnicom’s own complex global businesses.