Omnicom Group has begun a major global expansion of its PHD media agency network across Asia Pacific, continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa. PHD has long been a leading agency in the UK and North America, widely known for its pioneering and innovative work for clients.
In the Middle East, PHD will first have an office in Dubai, which will open in November.
In conjunction with the rollout of PHD, Omnicom is expanding the management structure for its global media services division, Omnicom Media Group, which in addition to PHD includes OMD, a leading global media agency, as well as a number of specialty companies. This Group approach will be reapplied regionally and locally across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific to facilitate the rollout of PHD, and to establish geographic accountability for Omnicom Media Group resources.
Commenting on these developments, Colin Gottlieb, CEO of Omnicom Media Group EMEA said: “The Group structure allows us to provide alternative media network solutions to meet individual client needs. Whether their preference is OMD or PHD we want all our media clients to benefit from the full media scale and resources of Omnicom”.
As a result, OMG has been formed in the Middle East in order to manage its two media networks, OMD and PHD. Alain Khouri, Chairman of OMG in the region and representing the three Omnicom partner agencies (BBDO, DDB and TBWA), made those comments during the announcement: “An increasing number of advertisers are entrusting our organization with their media requirements. As media is gaining in sophistication and complexity across our region, we feel it is necessary to multiply our resources to cater to those clients’ specific needs. Our two media companies, OMD and PHD, are both fully equipped to offer superior media services, each supplying its own clients with comprehensive media tools and systems.”
Mr Khouri announced the appointment of Elie Khouri to head Omnicom Media Group across the Middle East. “Elie has been the architect of OMD since its inception and will now be responsible for both OMD and PHD operations across our markets.”
“PHD in Dubai will be as much a PHD operation as in the countries where it currently operates,” said Elie Khouri. “We have made OMD in the Middle East an integral part of its global network and we will apply the same logic to PHD. A key benefit for clients of both our networks is in the consolidation of investments and resources at the Omnicom Media Group level, such as research and media negotiations, to deliver even stronger economies of scale. We’re very excited about the opportunities ahead of us.”
PHD Dubai will be headed by Samar Salman, previously in charge of MindShare in the Levant and North Africa. She brings with her a long experience of media and advertising in the region. Her team of media specialists will operate from the Thuraya Tower at the Dubai Media City.
David Pattison, CEO and co-founder of PHD Worldwide, said: “It’s very exciting to be expanding the PHD network. We believe there are huge opportunities for us in the growing and vibrant Middle East market”.
As for OMD Dubai, it will continue to be headed by Ravi Rao, one of the region’s leading media experts who is currently expanding his team to keep building on and consolidating OMD’s leadership position.
With its two separate networks OMD and PHD, Omnicom Media Group will keep building on its leadership position it has built over the years in the region.
About OMG:
Omnicom Media Group is the media services division of Omnicom Group, Inc. Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
