Dubai: Omnicom Media Group MENA has announced the promotion of Saleh Ghazal to the role of CEO of OMD MENA. He’s been leading OMD’s UAE operations since 2017, first as General Manager and then as Managing Director. As regional CEO, Ghazal will overlook a network of 12 offices.
This promotion comes at a time when OMD worldwide solidified its position as the global leading media agency after winning Media Network of the Year at Cannes Lions last week and ranking first in RECMA’S 2021 network diagnostics report. Over the past five years, OMD has transformed its product to help its clients not only navigate through challenges but also to conquer and reach new heights. Through precisely calibrating its talent, tools, technology and consumer understanding from a demographic, behavioural segmentation and psychographic perspective, the network has been able to pivot its service offering to meet the ever-evolving needs of its clients. In this role, Ghazal will ensure OMD’s award-winning excellence and best practices are deployed across the region and take the network to the next level.
Driven by his passion for technology, Ghazal started his career in digital media. Over the years, he combined his digital expertise with his account servicing skills to deliver relevant, effective and innovative hybrid business solutions for clients. Thanks to his business acumen and innate commercial strength, which continuously allowed him to create value for OMD’s clients and help them grow their business, he successfully transitioned from client to agency leadership.
“Saleh’s journey to this point, growing through the ranks, has prepared him well for this moment. The joy of seeing someone start his career at OMD and take the helm after 15 years of consistent performance is unparalleled. Saleh will not only strengthen the OMD network but also create the conditions for all our clients to meet and exceed their goals and ambitions, with the best talent, experience, practices and know-how,” stated Elda Choucair, CEO of Omnicom Media Group, MENA.
“It is an exciting time for OMD not just regionally but globally too. We’re celebrating our big Cannes Lion win of Media Network of the Year and the title of Agency Network of the Year at the MENA Digital Awards. Our clients, talent and partners keep aiming higher and that opens award-winning possibilities,” commented Saleh Ghazal. “I am ready to be at the forefront and lead this advancement, acting as a catalyst for the consistent and comprehensive roll-out of our offering everywhere.”
Ghazal will continue to report to Choucair as CEO of the group, and the OMD offices across the MENA region will report into him. The promotion is effective from July 1.
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About Omnicom Media Group MENA:
Omnicom Media Group MENA is the holding of OMD, PHD and Hearts & Science in the Middle East. Omnicom Media Group is the media services division of Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMC). 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. As well as its full-service media networks, Omnicom Media Group includes data and analytics platform Annalect Group and a number of specialty media communications companies. The holding group has consistently been named one of the UAE’s best employers since 2012 by the Great Place To Work Institute, The company reports its sustainability activities in accordance with the GRI G4 Guidelines.
About OMD:
OMD, a global media network part of the Omnicom Media Group, is the largest and most innovative marketing performance company in the world, with more than 10,000 employees in 100 markets serving many of the most successful and well-known global brands.
In the 2022 edition of the Network Diagnostics report by RECMA (Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry), OMD has been named the best performing global media network overall, earning its highest-ever scores. The analysis is based on 19 KPIs – including expertise in digital channels, content, data and analytics, and international markets – going beyond quantitative metrics such as activity volume or financial results. With global billings estimated at $21.3 bn, COMvergence ranked OMD as the world’s largest media network in 2020 (2021 figures due in May). Forrester also named it the Global Media Agency Leader for 2020, based on 29 criteria across current offering, strategy, and market presence, while Adweek named OMD as the 2020 Global Media Agency of the Year.
In awards terms, OMD was the Most medaled Media Network at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and the highest-ranking media agency network in the 2020 Effie Effectiveness Index.
OMD’s performance in creativity and effectiveness was also confirmed the MENA region at the Dubai Lynx Festival, where OMD was named the Media Network of the Year in 2019, and the MENA Effies, as the 2018 Most Effective Media Agency of the Year. Across several competitions, OMD garnered over 30 awards since 2018, the year Communicate magazine named it Media Agency and Media Network of the Year.
With $192 million in new business gains, OMG MENA saw the biggest growth in the region in 2021, with AlUla, Saudi F1 Grand Prix, Dakar Rallye, Saudi Vision 2030, Riyadh Art, ROSHN, EXPO 2020 and OSN as wins for OMD.
As part of Omnicom Media Group MENA, OMD’s sustainability practices are being reported in accordance with the GRI G4 Guidelines and the accuracy of its GRI G4 Content Index has been confirmed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). It has also been named one of the UAE’s top employers since 2012, ranking third in the Great Place To Work Institute’s survey in 2018.
FOR MORE DETAILS, CONTACT:
Felicity Stokes Marketing Lead
E-mail: felicity.stokes@omnicommediagroup.com
