Author: Amanda Granath

Agency introduces compelling commerce as strategic vision and focuses on its people as cofounders of the agency’s future

DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Tracy-Locke, leading commerce and communications agency, is introducing a new brand identity centered around the belief that there is no commerce problem in the world creativity cannot solve. This comes on the heels of two gold and one silver Effie awards in the Omnichannel Shopper Solution and Multi-Retailer Shopper Solution categories, solidifying Tracy-Locke’s track record of creative innovation that uniquely positions the agency to deliver compelling commerce to the marketplace.

As part of its people-first rebrand, the agency is reintroducing the hyphen to its name as a symbol of its people, who are all co-founders of the agency’s future. The small-but-mighty hyphen represents the agency’s integrated yet independent approach that fosters a creative work environment where everyone has a voice and seat at the table.

“Our people are the driving force that bring business and creative ideas together in ways that resonate for our clients and the consumers they’re trying to attract,” said Phil Camarota, Chief Creative Officer at Tracy-Locke. “They are dreamers, planners, artists and data gurus who keep our agency ahead of the commerce curve.”

From the very beginning, Tracy-Locke’s cofounders Shelley Tracy and Raymond Locke believed they were better together, joining forces to create The Original Commerce Agency – one that merged Tracy’s background as a grocery merchant and Locke’s expertise as a creative advertiser. This spirit of diverse and dynamic collaboration holds true today and drives what Tracy-Locke believes is the future of the industry – compelling commerce.  

The idea of compelling commerce carries two meanings for Tracy-Locke: 1) Compelling the industry forward through innovation, and 2) Creating compelling work that drives people to buy into brands and buy products. This is seen through the end-to-end approach Tracy-Locke takes in supporting clients from innovation to implementation.

With a new portfolio of services, the agency is delivering more value to brands through culturally relevant campaigns that hook human interest and connect with diverse and niche audience segments. Inclusive commerce is one of the agency’s latest strategic offerings, seen in the “Full of Detroit Soul” campaign for Pepsi that strengthened the brand’s connection with the city through local artists and support of Black-owned businesses. The campaign received a gold Effie for Omnichannel Shopper Solution, a category in which Tracy-Locke also earned a silver Effie for their work on the Ziploc “Functional Fashion” program.

Creative excellence and forward thinking have been driving the agency’s strategic growth since before the official rebrand, starting with the naming of Tina Manikas as President last June, followed by the agency’s expanded executive leadership board.

“When we expanded our executive leadership board last year, our focus was on four key pillars: driving strategic innovation, compelling creative excellence, expanding client partnerships and unifying talent-building programs,” said Michael Lovegrove, Chief Executive Officer. “As we rebrand, we’re placing an even more intentional focus on these pillars as we take care of our people, our clients and shape the future of commerce marketing.”

About Tracy-Locke:
Tracy-Locke is an award-winning global commerce and communications agency that is compelling the future of commerce by designing experiences that build brands and drive conversion through empathy, technology and an unmatched level of creativity. A pillar of the Omnicom Commerce Group, Tracy-Locke offers full-service capabilities ranging from innovation to implementation. Clients include PepsiCo, SC Johnson, Kellogg’s, Diageo, Godiva, Pizza Hut, LEGO, and Samsung. For more information, visit www.tracylocke.com.

About Omnicom Commerce Group:
Omnicom Commerce Group (OCG) is a global community of four award-winning commerce agencies, working with brands and retailers to offer best in class consultancy, creativity and capability focused on driving increased conversion and transaction. OCG’s priority is to address the need for innovative multi-channel commerce expertise in the rapidly evolving world of retail and shopping. OCG encompasses 1,800 people across 23 markets – for more information please visit www.omnicomcommercegroup.com. OCG is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) 

SOURCE Tracy-Locke

NEW YORK, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Leading communications consultancy Ketchum today announced the appointment of Jim Joseph to global chief marketing and integration officer, the first in the company’s history. Joseph will collaborate with teams worldwide, drawing on his extensive experience leading global client and agency brands to help shepherd and define the Ketchum brand as both trusted counselor to clients and prospective clients and destination of choice for current and future colleagues. In addition to leading global marketing and communications, Joseph will partner with his colleagues from across Omnicom Public Relations Group and the entire Omnicom network to unleash creative solutions for clients and to drive thought leadership for Ketchum. He joins the company from IPG Health, where he served as chief customer solutions officer.

“Jim is a world-class leader and counselor, and an all-around exceptional human being,” said Mike Doyle, Ketchum president and CEO. “The deep experience he brings in client relationship building, agency leadership and expertise in so many of our consultancy’s growth categories is clear. And importantly, his values and commitment to people, relationships and inclusion are aligned with Ketchum’s.”

Joseph has experience leading virtually every discipline within the marketing mix. Prior to his role at IPH Health, Joseph spent eight years at BCW, starting out at Cohn & Wolfe in a variety of global roles and then as a BCW global president, where he was instrumental in the successful merger of Burson Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe. Joseph also has extensive experience leading smaller specialty agencies and began his career client-side with brand management stints at Church and Dwight, Co. (Arm & Hammer) and Johnson & Johnson.

Chris Foster, CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group, said of the appointment, “I’ve known Jim for years, and he is one of the best in the business. I’m looking forward to seeing him thrive at Ketchum and to working with him on programs across Omnicom Public Relations Group and Omnicom.”

“Having been an integrated marketer from the very beginning of my career, I am inspired by both the legacy and future potential of Ketchum and quite simply, want to be a part of it and help to shape it,” commented Joseph. “The agency’s future matches my own goals, but it’s the Ketchum culture, spirit, and values that made me come running to the door.”  

Agency of the Year, Global Agency of the Year, Most Awarded Agency and Network of the Year, and Creative Agency of the Year are just a few of the accolades won under Joseph’s past agency leadership. In his “spare time,” Jim is training the next generation of marketing and public relations professionals in his role as adjunct professor at NYU’s School of Professional Studies and has been an avid blogger and author since 2009, receiving honors from the Nonfiction Authors Association, Axiom Book Awards and Reader Views for his most recent book, The Conscious Marketer: Inspiring a Deeper and More Conscious Brand Experience, which explores the need for brands to be aware of socio-political, public health, and cultural issues as consumer mindsets and behaviors evolve.

About Ketchum
The winner of 135 Cannes Lions, Ketchum is the most creatively awarded firm in our industry. We’re equal parts human-centered and business-focused, empathetic and intelligent. As a global communications consultancy, we combine the deep industry and specialty expertise of boutique firms with global reach to find unexpected connections that lead to lasting relationships and work that matters. For more information on Ketchum, a part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, visit www.ketchum.com.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, language strategy, global health strategy and change management. As the largest group of communications professionals in the world, our employees provide expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the Communications Consultancy Network, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).

About Omnicom Group Inc.
Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

SOURCE Ketchum Inc

OMG named a “Leader” among global media agency groups

NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — In a new analysis of global media agency groups from leading research and advisory firm Forrester, Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) received the highest possible scores in the retail media, commerce media, intelligence and insights, and optimization criteria; as well as in the operations and innovation roadmap criteria.  

The Forrester Wave™: Global Media Management Services analyzes the seven most significant global media management service providers against a 19-criterion evaluation across three categories: current offering, strategy, and market presence. Designed to help CMO professionals select the right provider for their needs, the report assesses the media groups under four designations: Leaders, Strong Performers, Contenders, and Challengers.   

With the highest possible scores in six criteria, and with the highest score in the current offering category, Omnicom Media Group was one of only two providers among the seven evaluated to earn designation as a “Leader” in the report. 

Describing OMG as “a good fit for advertisers that require bespoke, technology-literate, global media teams” the report also noted that “… the agency scales consumer empathy and understanding into quantifiable attention metrics against which advertisers can plan, buy, and measure.  To achieve this vision, the company deploys its Omni audience planning portal to power better audience, client, and employee experiences.”

The report also states that “OMG’s strength lies in initiatives to innovate its Omni portal, such as customized client workflow integrations, audience data integrations; marketing automation partnerships with Google; and efforts to unite media, e-commerce, and shopper tactics.”

This finding is borne out by a steady drumbeat of  first-mover product and partnership  announcements from OMG in 2022, including a multi-year agreement with Affinity Solutions to integrate retailer purchase transactions into Omni; an enterprise-wide  partnership with Firework, the world’s largest livestream commerce and shoppable video platform, to  deliver livestream shopping solutions directly to Omnicom clients’ websites; the industry’s first programmatic marketplace for point-of-purchase screens; and the Supply Chain IQ Score, which gives media planners day-to-day visibility into SKU inventory data at the physical store, digital shelf, and inventory-in-transit levels, enabling media investment to be shifted away from low inventory products in real time.

Most recently, OMG dominated the news cycle at last month’s  Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, announcing a series of first mover strategic partnerships with retail media networks including Walmart Connect,  Instacart, and Kroger Precision Marketing. 

“As the only agency group to have earned the highest possible score in all three of the criteria that we believe best represent the future of media investment and management – retail media, commerce media, and intelligence & insights – and as a group that also received the highest possible scores in two criteria that we think are critical differentiators in selecting an agency partner –operations and innovation road map – OMG is clearly a leader in today’s marketplace,” says OMG CEO Florian Adamski. “More importantly, as we continue to expand our capabilities and automate our infrastructure, and to build new products and partnerships, we are assuring that we and our clients will remain leaders –   today, tomorrow and beyond.”

Receiving Forrester’s  designation as a “Leader” is the latest good news for OMG, which last month  saw its largest agency, OMD Worldwide, take Media Network of the Year honors at the Cannes Lions festival; while PHD was awarded the $500 million  Restaurant Brands International (RBI) business, which includes the  Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Horton’s chains.About Omnicom Media Group

Omnicom Media Group (OMG) is the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company, providing services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Omnicom Media Group  includes full- service media agencies OMD, PHD and Hearts & Science as well as the Annalect data and analytics division that develops and manages Omni, the open operating system that orchestrates better outcomes for clients across all Omnicom agencies.

SOURCE OMD

OMG’s OMD Worldwide Named Media Network of the Year

NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — With a combination of accolades and headline-making announcements, Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) was a dominant presence at the 2022 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

On the accolades front, OMG agencies earned a total of 39 Lions and its OMD agency, the largest global media network by billings, was named Media Network of the Year. This marks the second consecutive year that an OMG agency took the Network of the Year title, which was awarded to PHD in 2021. 

Concurrent with its performance in the competition, OMG earned headlines each day of the festival, announcing a series of first-mover collaborations with retail media networks, as well as the global expansion of its TRKKNanalytics and ad consultancy that is one of the largest Google Marketing Platform (GMP) partners in Europe.

OMG’s Lions’ Share
The 39 Lions earned by OMG agencies – 7 Gold, 13 Silver and 19 Bronze – encompassed work from APAC, EMEA, North America and LATAM, spanning the automotive, CPG, Beverage Technology and Travel sectors; and including competition categories that reflect a wide range of both established and emerging priorities for clients – from data-driven targeting and insights to integrated media to corporate purpose and responsibility.

A strong global footprint was also evident in OMD’s Media Network of the Year award, with work from Portugal, France and Australia helping fuel the agency’s win.

“Being named Media Network of the Year is especially meaningful coming at a time when brands are re-evaluating their business, marketing and technology operations to better address new realities – both economic and cultural,” said George Manas, CEO, OMD Worldwide. “They need a trusted partner in transformation – and this recognition helps confirm that OMD is that partner.”

Taking the Lead in Connected Commerce
During the Cannes festival OMG announced four first-mover strategic partnerships with retail media networks, beginning Monday, June 20, with Walmart Connect announcing their first-ever agency holding company partnership with Omnicom. The agreement will enable cross-screen planning against Walmart audiences in Omni – Omnicom’s open operating system which orchestrates better outcomes for clients across the entire consumer purchasing journey – allowing Omnicom’s agencies to deliver connected experiences across media and commerce platforms with-in owned, earned, and paid environments.

Over the next three days, OMG also revealed details of its partnership with Instacart, that will help Omnicom clients better understand how media spend drives purchase of products on that platform; how Amazon is supporting OMG’s eCommerce training and certification programs; and its collaboration with Kroger Precision Marketing that will allow planners to optimize in-market retail media, utilizing shopper behavior data to shift spend based on product availability, and still have the flexibility to optimize media while maintaining national consumer demand.

Describing the collective impact of the announcements, Omnicom eCommerce CEO Frank Kochenash said, “With each collaboration, we are adding another layer of unique capabilities to a connected commerce offering that encompasses the totality of client investment across all media channels, screens and environments.”

A Global Expansion for the Cookieless World
OMG wrapped the industry’s most global of events with news of a global expansion, announcing on the last day of the festival that it is expanding TRKKN- its digital analytics ad technology and cloud consultancy that is one of the largest Google Marketing Platform sales partners across the European market – to APAC, the Middle East and North America. The expansion will assure global best practices that enable GMP & GCP efficiency and effectiveness, while also giving OMG greater flexibility to help in-housed media operations manage their Google marketing and cloud stacks to drive better business results in the cookieless future.

Summing up the desired takeaway from OMG’s high profile throughout Cannes 2022, OMG global CEO Florian Adamski says, “People were coming to Cannes this year looking for more than the big parties – they wanted big ideas and big actions that will help them solve the big challenges that we as an industry are all facing: privacy, connected commerce, measurement, the cookieless future, talent. Through the work we submitted, the partnerships we announced, the capabilities we’re expanding, and the close to 20 thought-leader forums we hosted over the week with clients and partners, I think the net takeaway for marketers is obvious: OMG is meeting these challenges- and we can help you meet them, too.”

About Omnicom Media Group
Omnicom Media Group (OMG) is the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company, providing services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Omnicom Media Group  includes full- service media agencies OMD, PHD and Hearts & Science as well as the Annalect data and analytics division that developed and manages Omni, the open architecture operating system underpinning all Omnicom agencies.

SOURCE Omnicom Media Group

CANNES, France, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Omnicom Media Group (OMG) the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) today announced a comprehensive strategic partnership with Instacart that will deliver a wide range of benefits to Omnicom clients, most significantly in providing new measurement capabilities.

Making the announcement during the second day of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Omnicom outlined details of the partnership, including account management, product first-looks, and product roadmap consultation. Most notably, Instacart is building a roadmap to work within the clean room infrastructure of Omni –  Omnicom’s  open operating system which orchestrates better outcomes for clients across the entire consumer purchasing journey – building on previously announced partnerships with NBC & Disney for planning and measurement in the Omni clean rooms.

With one of the largest grocery catalogs in the world, Instacart has insight into the complete customer journey – from search through checkout – across different touchpoints. Instacart provides CPG brands with aggregated, anonymized and retailer-agnostic data insights across the entire Instacart app that allows advertisers to better understand their customers’ online buying habits.

Omnicom has been a valuable partner to Instacart and this expanded relationship will deliver real impact for the agency’s clients,” says Ryan Mayward, Vice President of Ad Sales at Instacart.”

Explaining the benefits of adding Instacart to an Omni clean room that also houses NBC and Disney data, Mayward says, “We look forward to building a roadmap to work with Omni’s clean room infrastructure, where we’ll bring our unique insights and measurement capabilities to Omnicom clients’ media investments across NBC and Disney properties. For example, in the future, a home cleaning supply brand can better understand how its ads on Hulu drove purchase of its products on Instacart. We can also dive deep on basket analysis and content consumption trends with Omnicom to help that brand understand which products resonate most with audiences. Our vision is to equip CPG brands with the data and shopping insights they need to better understand their business and identify growth opportunities.”

Summing up the long-term benefits and implications of the partnership, Omnicom Media Group Chief Activation Officer Megan Pagliuca said, “By collaborating on measurement and insights, Omnicom and Instacart can help brands transform top-of-funnel, brand-building marketing channels to outcomes-based media.” 

The Instacart collaboration is the second in a series of commerce partnerships that Omnicom is announcing during the Cannes Lions Festival.  “With each collaboration, we are adding another layer of unique capabilities to a connected commerce offering that encompasses the totality of client investment across all media channels, screens and environments,” commented Omnicom eCommerce CEO Frank Kochenash,

About Omnicom Media Group
Omnicom Media Group (OMG) is the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company, providing services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Omnicom Media Group includes full- service media agencies Hearts & Science, OMD and PHD  ; performance marketing agency Resolution; Optimum Sports Media and Marketing; and the Annalect data and analytics division that developed and manages the Omni  open operating system that orchestrates better outcomes for clients across the entire consumer marketing journey.

About Instacart
Instacart is the leading online grocery platform in North America. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada. Instacart has partnered with more than 700 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including unique brand names, to deliver from more than 65,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart’s platform is available to over 85% of U.S. households and 90% of Canadian households. The company’s cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the ecommerce platforms of some of the world’s biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership that includes reduced service fees and unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information, visit www.instacart.com. For anyone interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, visit https://shoppers.instacart.com/.

SOURCE OMD

To retain top creative talent in a culture craving stability over spirituality, companies need to commit to fixing the basics and enable every day flow

CANNES, France, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — TBWA\Worldwide has today released a global study on the Future of Creative Work, revealing how creative talent feels about the state of the workplace, and what companies can do to make it better for employees.

Compared with the general employee benchmark, creative talent are significantly less likely to be satisfied with their work/life balance (55%, compared to a 64% global benchmark), and more likely to feel burned out or discouraged a lot of the time. In a culture where boundaries, mental health and stability are the most important values, the time has come for change.

Analyzing data from three different global sources—a proprietary TBWA global quantitative study which surveyed employees at creative companies as well as a general employee sample; syndicated resources such as Forrester and HBR, and by scraping content from employee review sites—the study seeks to uncover just how much the culture of creative work had changed since the workism-fueled 2010s.

“Creativity has the ability to move the world forward,” said Ben Williams, TBWA’s Global Chief Creative Experience officer, who co-led the study with Agathe Guerrier, the agency’s Global Chief Strategy Officer. “But for agencies and creative companies to be leading this progress, our work cultures need to evolve, quickly.”

Added Guerrier, “As an industry, we have a tendency to use creativity as an excuse, as if working in a creative field was reward enough to forego such mundane notions as annual reviews, career paths, functioning processes and fair pay. The findings of the research should act as a wake-up call. Our talent is asking us to respect their time and mental space, to provide financial stability, and to deliver a better daily experience of creative work.”

The full report is available now, and highlights include:Today’s Talent Works to Live, Not Vice Versa

We are entering a new era when it comes to the culture of work. To put this research into context, the study looked at relevant Edges–TBWA’s term for a meaningful cultural shift. The top three Edges that resonated the most in the study across the general sample of all employees, not just creative, all showed work being put firmly back in its place.

• Work/ Life Boundaries, 80% respondents agree/ strongly agree it is important their employer helps them achieve a good balance between personal and professional life.
• Stability Pursuit, 79% respondents strongly agree it is important their employer helps them maintain stability in their work-life so they can confidently plan for the personal milestones they care about. What’s even more surprising is that stability is most important to the youngest employees: 69% strongly agree among 18-25s, versus 51% among 41-55s.
• Mind Maintenance, 77% respondents agree/ strongly agree it is important their employer helps them care for their mental health by avoiding unnecessary pressures or stress, and proactively supports their emotional wellbeing.

The cultural value that mattered the least out of the nine measured among all respondents, creative and the general sample, was Activist Awakening–the idea that work should align with a person’s values or causes they care about.Creative Talent Expects More

The findings show that creative talent has stronger demands of their employers than the general population sample.

●  Work/Life Balance, 63% of creatives strongly agree it is important that their employer help them achieve a healthy balance vs 44% general population sample.

●  Stability Pursuit, 59% of creatives strongly agree vs 38% general population sample.

●  Mind Maintenance, 58% of creatives strongly agree vs 42% general population sample.The Daily Grind Is Worse for Creatives

While creative companies earn high marks for placing a high value on creativity (81% vs a 51% global benchmark), as well as building cultures where employees feel respected by their coworkers (86%) and receive praise and recognition for their work (71%), they are falling short on the day-to-day employee experience.

Creatives are 2x more likely to say things like approvals and authorizations, day to day schedule and task management and daily commutes degrade their work experience than the global benchmark.

Williams notes “The biggest problem is with the day-to-day experience of creative work–the pain points and daily grind standing in the way of flow. We’re seeing talent increasingly ask for their boundaries to be respected, help achieving their goals and support with their mental wellbeing. They know what they want, and we need to be giving it to them.”Implications

The findings point to some actionable changes all creative companies can make.

#1 Creativity cannot thrive without daily process and structure.

Creative industries are not delivering on the functions of daily work–the approvals and processes and operational burdens that get in the way of getting down to work. How can we improve the daily experience of work to enable more creative flow? As one example, TBWA is looking at different business models to incentivize faster, smarter and more efficient ways of working.

#2 Talent wants work to stay in its lane.

While we used to think talent wanted work and life to blend, it’s clear they want boundaries. How can we better protect talent’s boundaries, or at least recognize when we overstep, especially when the physical boundaries of life and work are blurrier than ever with remote work? 

#3 Stability matters more than spirituality.

Where we thought talent yearned for an employer who aligned with their high-level values and worldview, we’re discovering their expectations are more pragmatic. Companies can focus on the fundamentals, from annual reviews to growth plans to compensation, and gain more satisfaction than offering quick fixes. TBWA agencies including Shanghai, New York and others have invested in transparent career planning and professional development plans to give clearer career direction to talent.

TBWA is in the initial stages of a long term investment in employee experience, exploring more efficient models and ways of working and applying learnings to the company’s operations. Anyone interested in advancing the Future of Creative Work agenda can contribute comments and ideas directly in the report.About the Methodology

TBWA conducted a proprietary survey by TBWA fielded May 2022; representative sample of populations in the United States (n=665), United Kingdom (n=559), Australia (n=441), South Africa (n=466), and Singapore (n=408), followed by voluntary survey of creative marketing professionals in 40+ countries in May 2022 (n=567).

The survey analyzed attitudes at three levels:

1. Cultural attitudes
2. Engagement drivers
3. Employee experience

In addition, desk research was conducted via Forrester EX research, HBR and other industry papers (specific to creative industries and more general EX). Furthermore, TBWA conducted a machine scrape of 68,000 employee reviews of leading creative services firms and marketers at the world’s largest brands (Indeed, Glassdoor, US and Canada).About TBWA\Worldwide

TBWA is The Disruption® Company. We use creativity to help businesses challenge the status quo and capture an unfair share of the future. Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and Adweek’s 2021 Global Agency of the Year, we are a disruptive brand experience company that uses trademarked Disruption® methodologies to help businesses address their challenges and achieve transformative growth. Our collective has 10,000+ creative minds in 41 countries, and also includes brands such as Auditoire, Digital Arts Network (DAN), eg+ worldwide, GMR, The Integer Group®, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, TBWA\WorldHealth and TRO. Global clients include adidas, Apple, Gatorade, Henkel, Hilton Hotels, McDonald’s, Nissan and Singapore Airlines. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. TBWA is part of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC).

SOURCE TBWA\Worldwide

LONDON and DALLAS, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Credera, a global boutique consulting firm focused on strategy, innovation, data, and technology, today has announced the opening of a new office in Newcastle’s vibrant city centre to broaden its technical reach and support in the continued regeneration of the North East of England. Bringing together world-class skills in strategy, innovation, and technology, Credera will harness the power of its 3,000 consulting staff around the world to the region. It plans to recruit an additional 200 members of staff within the next three years in Newcastle to add to its existing offices in London, Leeds, and Manchester.

“Launching our Newcastle office marks the start of another exciting chapter in the Credera story,” says Chris Dean, Credera’s CEO in the UK. “We believe that the city’s growing tech scene will open the door to new and exciting opportunities for our people and clients alike, and we look forward to welcoming new and diverse perspectives to our community.”

“Launching our Newcastle office marks the start of another exciting chapter in the Credera story,” says Chris Dean.Tweet this

“Recently coined ‘the best kept secret in tech’, we are delighted to be opening our doors in Newcastle,” says Ewan Miller, Managing Director and Newcastle market lead. “Credera’s mission is to make an extraordinary impact on our clients, our people, and our community, and following our arrival in the city, we intend to do exactly that.”

Invest Newcastle, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) has been supporting Credera with their move to the North East of England, showcasing the city’s position as the UK’s Smartest City and one of the top ten most important tech hubs in the country. They also introduced Credera to the North of Tyne Combined Authority where they were able to access an Inward Investment Grant of £1 million to support the creation of 160 high skilled roles.

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Credera to the region; we’ve worked side by side with the team and with the wider Omnicom Group, since autumn 2021 when we helped to build the case for this global digital and tech player to locate in Newcastle,” said Jen Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle. “Credera’s arrival in the region is significant in terms of our region’s reputation as a home of choice for digital and tech sector businesses and is a testament to the quality reputation the region has established worldwide. That reputation will be further boosted by having the name of Credera as part of the sector. We will continue to support their teams as they work to put down roots in the area and reach out to potential team members with their offering of high-quality roles across a range of disciplines.”

Credera is actively recruiting experienced consultants and engineers with expertise in cloud, data, and software engineering, who are looking for a fast-growing, mission-driven, and values-oriented firm. The consultancy is also expanding their program management services and are recruiting skilled PMO consultants to support large scale transformations. Credera will continue to focus on growing leaders through mentorship and continuing education opportunities.

Headquartered in Dallas, US, Credera’s growing global team of talented consultants in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Singapore drive impact for companies around the world. An award-winning consultancy with a tight-knit culture, Credera has consistently been named a Great Place to Work for six years running. The company also had recent success in winning the ‘Outstanding Diversity Network of the Year Award’ at the Women in IT Awards 2022.About Credera

Credera (credera.com) is a consulting firm focused on strategy, innovation, data and technology. As a part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, our approximately 3,000 consultants across the globe partner together with clients ranging from FTSE 100 companies and public sector giants to emerging industry leaders from strategy to execution to create tangible business results. Credera’s deep business acumen and technical expertise, combined with a deep dedication to building trusted relationships, unlock extraordinary business performance for our clients. Our mission is to make an extraordinary impact on our clients, people, and communities.About Omnicom Precision Marketing Group

Omnicom Precision Marketing Group aligns Omnicom’s global digital, data and CRM capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale. Using its universal framework of connected data, connected intelligence, and connected experiences, OPMG provides services that include data-driven product / service design, AdTech / MarTech strategy and implementation, CRM / loyalty strategy and activation, econometric and attribution modelling, and digital experience design and development. At the core of these services is Omni, a proprietary marketing orchestration system that combines a powerful cultural insights engine with massively scaled data from first-, second- and third-party sources to deliver a single view of consumers and better intelligence and outcomes for our clients. Credera is part of the Omnicom Precision Marketing Group (OPMG), the digital and customer relationship management specialist practice area within Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).About Invest Newcastle  

Part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Invest Newcastle drive and deliver economic growth in Newcastle and Gateshead. They secure capital investment, work to attract new businesses, and create jobs. They help businesses to locate, expand and thrive through a bespoke range of services. They champion the region and its strengths on a national and international stage, promoting Newcastle as a city to collaborate, innovate and thrive. Since it was established in 2013, it has supported more than 200 new businesses to relocate or expand, helping to create and safeguard more than 11,000 jobs. investnewcastle.com

SOURCE Credera

The hire signals the agency’s continued focus on innovation and brand experience

NEW YORK, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Today, TBWA\Chiat\Day New York announced the appointment of Rori DuBoff as Chief Innovation Officer. With more than 20 years of work in experience design and business strategy, DuBoff will be responsible for driving innovation within TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, helping the agency’s clients architect their total brand experience and harness industry disruption, while evolving the agency’s own practices and ways of working.

DuBoff joins TBWA following the best year of growth in its history, after spending five years at Accenture Song as Managing Director, North America Innovation Lead and Experience Strategy. DuBoff will work closely with the agency’s creative and strategy leadership, as well as finance, talent and operations. She will also be part of NEXT, TBWA’s global innovation practice. DuBoff will report to TBWA\Chiat\Day New York CEO Nancy Reyes.

The appointment highlights TBWA’s continued focus on brand experience and its commitment to evaluating and evolving how the company operates. In recent years, TBWA has grown through expanded products and services on top of the agency’s core advertising offer, as clients seek partners that can bring cohesion to their marketing ecosystem.

Nancy Reyes, CEO, TBWA\Chiat\Day New York notes, “Innovation is about guiding the way we work, think, tackle business problems and deliver the total brand experience, for our clients and ourselves. Rori is an exceptional talent with a unique blend of skills and a passion for creativity that will move the company forward.”

DuBoff’s background is multifaceted. Prior to her tenure at Accenture, which focused on experience strategy and innovation, DuBoff spent time in senior roles at Havas Media Group and Ogilvy. She also worked on the client side at Credit Suisse.

“I was drawn specifically to TBWA\Chiat\Day for its high bar for creativity, fearlessness and Disruption process. This company has the best clients in the world. That coupled with an incredible leadership team and the belief that we have permission to do anything if we can create impact, is inspiring and energizing,” added DuBoff.

DuBoff continued, “As the innovation pendulum pushes in the direction of new technologies, I’m excited that TBWA’s unique creative power, culture and clients will lead the next generation of brand experiences.”About TBWA\Chiat\Day New York

Known as the Disruption® Company, TBWA\Chiat\Day NY is the New York office of the TBWA global collective. Recognized as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2022, named AdAge’s 2022 Agency Network of the Year and Adweek’s Global Agency of the Year in 2021, we help brands find strategic and creative white space through the power of Disruption.

Clients include Abbott, bubly, Columbia Journalism Review, Dial, got2b, Hilton, Mayo Clinic, Mountain Dew, Nissan, Schwarzkopf, Snuggle and Travelers Insurance.

Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. TBWA is part of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC).

SOURCE TBWA\Chiat\Day

Honoring the activists, advocates, and accomplices driving change and championing diversity, equity and inclusion across the public relations and communications industry

Featuring keynote speakers Delano Massey, CNN Race and Equality Beat Leader; Nicole Cardoza, award-winning serial social entrepreneur, investor and author; and Chandran Nair, founder of The Global Institute for Tomorrow

NEW YORK, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Diversity Action Alliance (DAA), a coalition of public relations and communications leaders, will host its second annual Diversity Gala, presented by Omnicom Public Relations Group on June 15, 2022 from 5-10 p.m. ET. at Gotham Hall, New York. The event will be centered on the theme of Activists, Advocates, and Accomplices: Communicators Convening for Change.

The Gala will showcase the notable work that the public relations and communications industry has enacted to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the past year, through keynote speeches from industry influencers, featured presentations and honoree spotlights. The evening’s program will recognize the individual communicators and organizations consistently driving action in DE&I and who push for the recruitment, retention and representation in management of top talent within the industry.

“Since its inception, the DAA has been focused on encouraging and facilitating real change around DEI within the PR and communications industry, and this year, we couldn’t be prouder to honor those who have been true to our mission of action as activists, advocates and accomplices,” said Carmella Glover, President of the DAA. “We are grateful to all of our signatories, sponsors and supporters who know that our collective work is not over as we aim to have the industry reflect the diversity of the U.S. population by 2025.”

The following honors are presented in partnership with Hold the PRess, Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA), the Indigenous Peoples Public Relations Association (IPPRA), National Black Public Relations Society (NBPRS) and VOICES for AAPI:

• Notable BIPOC-Owned Agencies
• Distinguished Communicators of Color

Chris Foster, CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group, stated, “Achieving systemic equity requires each of us to do our part, working together with urgency and intention to make progress. Omnicom Public Relations Group is proud to partner with the DAA to put a necessary spotlight on key issues, recognize our industry’s change agents, and propel our field forward.”

The event will be emceed by Laura Coates, author, CNN anchor, senior legal analyst and SiriusXM talk show host, and chaired by Azurée Montoute-Lewis, Global Head of Talent Management and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

DAA Board Chair and Principal at Charlene Wheeless, LLC & Senior Advisor Equity & Justice APCO Worldwide said, “The DAA has been a strong convener of professionals and companies in the communications industry and plays a key role in building accountability. We strive to help individuals and organizations bring about meaningful shifts in organizational culture that result in equity and belonging for the long-term.”

Sponsors include: Accenture, Acuity Brands, APCO Worldwide, BCW, Cision, Enbridge, Glen Echo Group, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Mars, Omnicom Group, Page, PepsiCo, Prosek Partners, Target, Voya Financial, and Zeno Group. The full list of sponsors is featured on the DAA website.

Funds raised from the event will be used to support the DAA’s continued efforts for a diverse, equitable and inclusive PR and communications industry. To become a sponsor of the DAA, visit https://www.diversityactionalliance.org/contact.

About the Diversity Action Alliance

The Diversity Action Alliance (DAA) is a coalition of public relations and communications leaders joining forces to accelerate progress in achieving meaningful and tangible results in diversity, equity, and inclusion across our profession. The DAA’s goal is to achieve continuous improvement for professionals of color as measured by recruitment, retention and representation at all levels. For more information about the Diversity Action Alliance, visit the website and follow the DAA on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, language strategy, global health strategy and change management. As the largest group of communications professionals in the world, our employees provide expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the Communications Consultancy Network, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC). 

SOURCE Diversity Action Alliance

New Research and Contributions from World Renowned Experts Find that Brands of the Future Need to Put Cohesion at Their Heart

ST. LOUIS, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Consumers are demanding that brands prioritize togetherness in what they say and do, or they will take their business elsewhere, according to “The Togetherness Economy,” a new research report published by FleishmanHillard about companies’ role in fostering social cohesion.

The report, conducted in partnership with Harvard Medical School professor of psychiatry Robert J. Waldinger and futurologist Martin Raymond, reveals that 61% of consumers in both the U.S. and U.K. feel brands play an important role in fostering social cohesion. Seventy percent said they are more likely to buy a product if the brand that produces it promoted togetherness.

Currently, however, brands are not meeting the expectations set by western consumers. Forty-five percent felt that the way brands market themselves actively contributes to social division. Similarly, 58% felt that brands play on stereotypes in their communications in order to be humorous or appeal to a certain section of society. The fashion, healthcare and beauty sectors were judged to be the three industries that contribute most to division.

“In this attention economy era, we have become obsessed with getting people to notice us and with evoking a reaction,” said Lauren Winter, global managing director of consumer culture, FleishmanHillard. “This has contributed to unsavory developments including culture wars and divisive headlines, and a prioritization of arbitrary outputs that divide over meaningful outcomes that connect. This study from our Culture Unit does not just paint the stark reality that brands and communications practitioners face, though. It also shows them how to adapt to – and thrive in – it.”

FleishmanHillard worked with Waldinger to come up with a framework for togetherness to help brands better foster social cohesion. Calling on his experience as the director of the world’s longest-running study of adult life ever done, he devised six questions for companies to ask themselves to prioritize togetherness. The questions – or, Togetherness Traits – are explained in the report.  

“It has been both rewarding and intellectually stimulating to work with FleishmanHillard’s Culture Unit on this important and timely report,” Waldinger said. “As we reveal in the report, corporate marketing and communications are incredibly powerful shapers of our expectations about what is normal and how we should interact with one another. I hope that these Togetherness Traits will help companies across the world put that power to good use and help create a more cohesive world – together.”

“The Togetherness Economy” ends with a chapter written by Raymond, the co-founder of the Future Laboratory, one of the world’s most renowned futures consultancies. Raymond argues that demographic data suggests we are on the brink of a new age of cohesion, thanks to future generations’ enthusiastic adoption of what he calls the ‘Five Cs’: collaboration, community, conviviality, co-operation and conscientiousness. The collective embodiment of these five Cs will create more cohesive societies that will be less forgiving toward companies that aren’t reflective of these values themselves. Raymond coins the concept of the ‘Community Company’ as the answer to this change – a company that is willing to embed itself into the fabric of the communities that it expects to prosper.

“The Togetherness Economy” was developed by FleishmanHillard’s Culture Unit, a global team of macro culture strategists that enable brands to be brave and take action while being thoughtful of the cause they are communicating. The report comes in the wake of the Unit’s industry-first partnerships with the inclusive talent agency Zebedee, and the United Nations’ Unstereotype Alliance.

The research for “The Togetherness Economy” was conducted by TRUE Global Intelligence, the agency’s in-house research practice. Research for the report included a survey of 2,000 adults at least 18 years of age across the U.S. and U.K. (1,000 per country). Respondents were made up of nationally representative samples based on gender, age, region and ethnicity. The survey consisted of eight questions that were answered online by respondents between March 30 and April 7. The report is available to read and download here.About FleishmanHillard

FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named 2021 PRovoke Global Agency of the Year, 2021 ICCO Network of the Year, 2021 Campaign Global PR Agency of the Year, 2022 PRWeek U.S. Agency of the Year and Outstanding Extra-Large Agency of the Year; 2021 PRovoke APAC Consultancy of the Year; 2021 PRWeek UK Large Consultancy of the Year; Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality 2018-2021; and to Seramount’s (formerly Working Mother Media) “Top Companies for Executive Women” list 2010-2021. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, and has nearly 80 offices in more than 30 countries, plus affiliates in 45 countries.About Omnicom Public Relations Group 

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, language strategy, global health strategy and change management. As the largest group of communications professionals in the world, our employees provide expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the Communications Consultancy Network, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).  About Omnicom Group Inc.

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.About Professor Robert J. Waldinger

Robert Waldinger is a professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and directs the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running study of adult life ever done. The Study tracks the lives of 724 men for 83+ years and now studies their children to understand how childhood affects health and wellbeing in middle age. He is founding director of the Lifespan Research Foundation, dedicated to sharing the learning from the study more broadly to help people live more meaningful and happier lives. 

His TED talk on lessons from the longest study of happiness is the fastest spreading talk of TEDx events.  

More about the programs Waldinger has developed with the insights from the Harvard Study to help people live happier lives with greater meaning and fulfillment is available at www.lifespanresearch.org.About Martin Raymond, futurologist and cofounder of the Future Laboratory

Martin Raymond is co-founder of The Future Laboratory and editor-in-chief of LS:N Global. Raymond is a well-known trend guru, having written several best-selling books on trend forecasting, including The Trend Forecaster’s Handbook and The Tomorrow People. Martin contributes regularly as an expert on trends and business for the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.

SOURCE FleishmanHillard Inc.

The Agency Will Help Brands Up-skill and Prepare Marketing and Communications Teams for the Metaverse and Web3 Technologies

ST. LOUIS, June 1, 2022  /PRNewswire/ — FleishmanHillard’s Media + Platforms (M + P) practice today announced the launch of learning lab environments to help brands explore the impact of the metaverse, Web3 and emerging digital media platforms. The offering includes a combination of an existing training series and planning workshop, along with hands-on experience in a custom-built environment where brands can gain the strategic and technical expertise needed to communicate and market in these new platforms. 

“It’s time to help clients move beyond the hype headlines of today and see what’s possible in emerging technologies, including how to use them now and prepare for the future,” said Ephraim Cohen, global managing director of Media + Platforms, FleishmanHillard. “Our offering helps teams develop new skills and strategies in a customized, curated learning lab environment based on the client’s industry, culture and business goals.” 

The capability will be overseen by Jared Carneson, a FleishmanHillard senior partner, who, as part of the Media + Platforms global leadership team, leads the development of capabilities around emerging platforms. The new Media + Platforms offering includes three components to help clients learn, plan and begin developing the skills needed for the future: 

• The Learning Series helps communications professionals understand the basics of the metaverse and Web3, and the potential impact on communications. For organizations that have core products, services or strategies tied to Web3 or the metaverse, this series of training courses will help them develop subject matter expertise in the area.  
• The Scenario Planning Workshop will outline the potential impact of emerging platforms on a company, its communications strategy and team skills needed in the next five years. The workshop includes the development of ongoing learning paths for communications team members.  
• The Lab Building Design Workshop sets up an ongoing testing and learning lab within the client’s environment. The goal is to learn and develop new communications approaches and skillsets to help teams prepare to adopt innovative technologies and platforms as they become mainstream.  

To help bring scenarios to life, FleishmanHilllard and Omnicom’s creative lab MINDTRIC will be partnering to conceptualize, design and build metaverse environments, immersive experiences and creative activations. The two companies will use and explore the application and impact of emerging technologies for clients with a particular emphasis on utility lead applications of Web3 from NFT’s to dApps and everything in-between. 

The new offering leverages media, digital and technology expertise from across FleishmanHillard’s Media + Platforms practice, which unites media relations, social influencer, brand content and digital platform experts into one integrated, innovative community to deliver maximum impact for clients across earned, owned and paid channels. 

About FleishmanHillard
FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named 2021 PRovoke Global Agency of the Year, 2021 ICCO Network of the Year, 2021 Campaign Global PR Agency of the Year, 2022 PRWeek U.S. Agency of the Year and Outstanding Extra-Large Agency of the Year; 2021 PRovoke APAC Consultancy of the Year; 2021 PRWeek UK Large Consultancy of the Year; Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality 2018-2021; and to Seramount’s (formerly Working Mother Media) “Top Companies for Executive Women” list 2010-2021. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, and has nearly 80 offices in more than 30 countries, plus affiliates in 45 countries.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group 
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, language strategy, global health strategy and change management. As the largest group of communications professionals in the world, our employees provide expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the Communications Consultancy Network, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).  

About Omnicom Group Inc.
Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

SOURCE FleishmanHillard Inc.