AD Agencies
Maxus strengthens global board with three additions
MUMBAI: Maxus has announced the strengthening of its global senior management team with three new appointments to its executive board.
Benedict, Rudi Symons and Pam Sullivan are joining the ExCo. Benedict and Symons have both been promoted to new roles. Benedict becomes worldwide chief client officer, while Symons has been named worldwide chief talent officer. Sullivan, will continue in her role as managing director of Maxus Los Angeles.
Benedict joined Maxus as a managing partner in 2014 from MEC where he was the global client lead. In his new role, Benedict will continue to help develop both the ever-expanding Maxus global Huawei relationship and GroupM’s global L’Oréal account across 19 markets, as well as spearheading the Maxus Client Leadership practice.
Rudi Symons, newly appointed worldwide chief talent officer, joined Maxus in September 2015 as EMEA head of talent and culture. In her new role, she will be responsible for developing the global talent and culture strategy across 55 markets. Since joining, Symons has launched a number of HR initiatives at Maxus.
Pam Sullivan joined Maxus in 2011 as the managing director for Maxus Los Angeles, leading the launch of the new office. She also heads Maxus’s largest client in North American, leading the NBCU film and television business, for which she oversees and leads strategic planning, implementation and stewardship for all products. In her five years at Maxus, Sullivan has increased the Los Angeles office’s billings fourfold.
Lindsay Pattison, worldwide CEO, said, “Our talent delivers highly creative, award winning campaigns that grow our clients’ businesses.”
Dan said: “With Maxus’ unique client-centric culture my new role is firmly about supporting clients through this time of peak complexity. The key is ensuring local knowledge delivers global impact.”
Sullivan will continue to be based in Los Angeles and report into both Steve Williams, Maxus Americas CEO, and Lindsay Pattison, Maxus Worldwide CEO. Benedict and Symons will continue to be based in London and report to Pattison.
AD Agencies
Omnicom to divest $2.5 billion businesses in 12 months: CEO John Wren
Group doubles synergy target to $1.5bn as jobs, brands and markets go
NEW YORK: Omnicom Group is preparing to divest or exit businesses generating about $2.5 billion in annual revenue, stepping up a sweeping portfolio overhaul after its $13.25 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group.
Speaking on the group’s fourth-quarter earnings call, chairman and chief executive officer John Wren said Omnicom had already sold or exited units worth more than $800 million in annual revenue and expects to complete the remaining disposals within 12 months.
The company is also scaling back in smaller markets, shifting from majority to minority ownership in businesses accounting for roughly $700 million in revenue. These markets, Wren said, are no longer central to Omnicom’s long-term strategy.
Following the IPG merger, Omnicom has doubled its targeted annual run-rate synergies to $1.5 billion over the next 30 months, from an earlier estimate of $750 million. Management expects to capture $900 million of those savings in 2026 alone, with around $1 billion coming from labour cost reductions as overlapping corporate, network and operational roles are eliminated.
Further efficiencies will flow from simplified regional and brand structures, consolidated resources, and faster outsourcing and offshoring under a unified operating model. In December 2025, the group said it would cut more than 4,000 jobs and fold several agency brands into larger networks.
Wren also underlined stepped-up investment in automation and artificial intelligence to lift margins and sharpen client servicing amid intensifying competition.
The board has authorised a $5 billion share buyback, including a $2.5 billion accelerated repurchase programme, while committing continued investment in media, commerce, consulting and data capabilities.
Omnicom reported a 27.9 per cent rise in fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue to $5.53 billion, reflecting organic growth and one month’s contribution from IPG, compared with $4.32 billion a year earlier. Wren said the IPG combination strengthened the client roster, citing new or expanded mandates from American Express, Bayer, BBVA, BNY, Mercedes-Benz and NatWest Group.
