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Omnicom shakes up PR: Golin-Ketchum merger, Porter Novelli joins FleishmanHillard
Matt Neale to lead combined agency as Porter Novelli shifts into FleishmanHillard
MUMBAI: Omnicom is shaking up its public relations roster with a bold restructuring move, according to media reports. The holding company is merging Golin and Ketchum into a single brand agency, while Porter Novelli will now operate under the FleishmanHillard umbrella.
The combined Golin-Ketchum agency will be led by Golin CEO Matt Neale as chief executive officer, with Ketchum’s Tamara Norman stepping in as global president. Norman, who became Ketchum’s US CEO in 2024, has been steering the ship since former CEO Mike Doyle’s departure in July. Despite the merger, both brands will retain their individual identities during the transition.
Meanwhile, Porter Novelli will no longer operate independently. The agency will continue as a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard, bringing together expertise in corporate affairs, reputation management, and social impact work. FleishmanHillard CEO J.J. Carter will stay at the helm, while Porter Novelli CEO Jillian Janaczek takes on the role of Americas CEO within the new structure, according to reports.
The shake-up sits within Omnicom Public Relations, one of the group’s “connected capabilities,” overseen by CEO Chris Foster. The move is part of a wider plan to streamline operations, improve consistency across markets, and ensure clients experience uninterrupted service.
Not every agency under Omnicom’s PR umbrella is affected. Weber Shandwick, MMC, and the company’s public affairs firms including DDC Public Affairs, GMMB, FP1 Strategies, Mercury Public Affairs, Plus Communications, Portland Communications, and Vox Global will continue to operate as usual under their existing leadership.
The restructuring is set to roll out in phases throughout 2026, with Omnicom emphasising continuity for both clients and teams.
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Sleepwell unveils nationwide sleep study on World Sleep Day
79 per cent use screens before bed, 36 per cent of 18–25-year-olds sleep ≤5 hours.
MUMBAI: Sleepwell just dropped the pillow truth bomb because when India’s sleeping less and scrolling more, even the mattress wants to stage an intervention. On World Sleep Day 2026, Sleepwell released its nationwide Sleep Study, painting a stark picture of India’s escalating sleep crisis. The findings show that 79% of Indians use screens right before bed, fuelling restless nights and drowsy days. Alarmingly, 36% of young adults aged 18–25 sleep five hours or less making them the country’s most sleep-deprived group.
The study also busts the myth of “catch-up sleep”, 65% of respondents actually sleep even later on weekends, pointing to increasingly irregular patterns that spill fatigue into the working week. Mattress discomfort emerged as a frequently overlooked culprit behind late-night wake-ups and constant leak-anxiety checks.
To drive the message home, Sleepwell’s CMO Puneet Gulati appeared on Zee Business, stressing that quality sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s foundational health. He highlighted how the right mattress can transform restless nights into restorative ones.
The brand doubled down with clever late-night activations, partnering with a quick-commerce platform to serve contextual ads between 11 pm and 3 am, gently nudging bleary-eyed scrollers to consider mattress discomfort as the reason they’re still awake and pointing them to the nearest Sleepwell store. Digital influencers and creators also shared relatable stories of how poor sleep fuels impulsive late-night behaviour.
In a nation that celebrates hustle but quietly pays for it in lost rest, Sleepwell isn’t just selling mattresses, it’s selling the radical idea that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is close your eyes and actually sleep well.
