Omnicom Media taps Ellen Griffin to drive OMD’s global reinvention agenda

Ellen Griffin

By Felicia Nwosu

The shift did not arrive quietly. It moved with intent. It carried urgency. And almost instantly, it signalled a new rhythm within global media leadership.

Against the backdrop of an industry being reshaped by data, platforms, and artificial intelligence, Omnicom Media Group has stepped forward with a decisive play, appointing Ellen Griffin as Global Brand President of OMD as revealed in its website recently.

With that move, the group does not merely fill a leadership role. Instead, it repositions its centre of gravity, placing operational depth and transformation expertise at the heart of its next phase.

Notably, this decision follows closely on the heels of Bradley Rogers stepping in as Chief Executive Officer of OMD USA. Taken together, both appointments signal a coordinated and deliberate reset, one designed to sharpen client delivery and strengthen execution across critical markets.

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At the same time, she is expected to equip teams with advanced tools, stronger capabilities, and the insight required to deliver sustained growth.

As she assumes this position, George Manas transitions into a new role as Chief Growth and Solutions Officer within the broader Omnicom structure.

Reflecting on that shift, Florian Adamski acknowledges the momentum built under Manas, noting that his leadership elevated OMD’s global standing and strengthened its competitive position.

That progress is not abstract. Under Manas, OMD secured major industry recognition, including consecutive Media Network of the Year titles at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2024 and 2025.

Consequently, Griffin does not start from scratch. Instead, she inherits a platform already in motion and is now expected to accelerate it, and importantly, she brings the experience to do so.

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Since joining OMD in 2018 as Global Innovation Director, Griffin has consistently driven transformation across multiple layers of the business. She then moved into the role of Global Chief Client Solutions Officer, where she led the development of data-driven solutions powered by the Omni Intelligence Platform, directly contributing to over $2.5 billion in new business growth.

Subsequently, as the agency’s first Global Chief Operating Officer, she reengineered operating models, strengthened internal structures, and ensured that the network remained agile and responsive to rapidly shifting client demands.

Highlighting her readiness, Adamski points to her hands-on work with global brands such as Clorox, McDonald’s, and PepsiCo. Through those engagements, he notes, she has built deep expertise in marketing transformation, positioning her strongly to lead this next chapter.

More significantly, he stresses that her leadership will ensure that OMD agencies worldwide fully harness Omnicom’s capabilities across data, commerce, identity, and talent, ultimately unlocking stronger value for clients.

Meanwhile, Griffin steps into this role at a time when the marketing landscape refuses to stand still. Platforms continue to evolve. Commerce ecosystems expand rapidly.

As it is, artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes how consumers think, behave, and engage. As a result, brands are being forced to rethink not just what they say, but how, where, and why they connect.

Speaking on her appointment, Griffin does not downplay the moment. Instead, she emphasises urgency. She explains that clients now demand partners who can anticipate disruption, not just respond to it.

Therefore, by connecting data, platforms, insights, and media strategy, OMD aims to help brands act with clarity, move with confidence, and unlock new growth pathways.

At the same time, she makes her priorities clear. She intends to strengthen collaboration across teams, deepen operational capabilities, and ensure consistent delivery of measurable impact across the network.

Ultimately, this is more than a leadership change. It is a signal.

As the pace of transformation accelerates, Omnicom Media Group is not pausing to observe. Instead, it is moving deliberately, placing experienced operators at the centre of its strategy and actively redefining what modern media leadership should look like.