IPG’s Top Media Exec Is Out as Omnicom Merger Shakes Up Leadership Ranks—Read the Internal Memo Here

The merger between main holding corporations Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group (IPG) continues to shake up management ranks. Eileen Kiernan, the chief govt of IPG’s media division, IPG Mediabrands, will step down from her position because the agency is absorbed into the brand new firm, based on an inside memo reviewed by ADWEEK. Kiernan’s announcement is a part of the continued ripple results from Omnicom’s $13 billion acquisition of IPG, finalized final week, which has already seen hundreds of jobs axed, the shuttering of three historic advert businesses, and a serious govt reshuffling. As a part of the merger, IPG Mediabrands shall be folded into the mixed firm’s new media division, Omnicom Media. “As IPG Mediabrands evolves into the following chapter of Omnicom Media, regrettably we shall be saying goodbye to a variety of our individuals, together with a few of our international leaders,” Kiernan wrote within the memo, which was despatched to employees on Monday. “I need to thank all to your devoted service, unwavering dedication, partnership, and friendship, significantly over these previous three years. We’ve been lucky to have had this time collectively, and we want you all good issues within the chapter forward.”She continued: “As for me, after an unimaginable 14 years with IPG, I too shall be transferring on to embrace my subsequent journey—stuffed with household and mates. My departure gained’t be rapid, nevertheless. I’ll be staying on by the primary few months of 2026, serving to Flo [Omnicom Media CEO Florian Adamski] with the transition to make sure a clean touchdown for you and our purchasers into the brand new Omnicom.”Kiernan took the highest submit at IPG Mediabrands in 2023 after an almost five-year stint as international president for the company community’s Johnson & Johnson account. In her e mail Monday, she added that “[m]ore adjustments shall be introduced within the coming days,” however underscored the corporate’s ongoing “dedication to excellence in consumer partnership, our continued funding in an unparalleled suite of related capabilities, and our dedication to a strong, unifying working mannequin.”Kiernan didn’t reply to a request for remark. Representatives for the mixed holding firm, Omnicom, declined to remark. Florian Adamski, who grew to become CEO of Omnicom Media Group in 2021, will helm the newly consolidated media operations, which is now being known as Omnicom Media (sans “Group”). The division will home six media businesses, based on a LinkedIn submit from Adamski: OMD, Hearts & Science, and PHD from the Omnicom aspect, in addition to UM, Initiative, and Mediahub from the IPG aspect. Industrial supply shall be managed by three organizations: Omnicom Media Funding and Outside Media Group from the Omnicom aspect, and Kinesso from the IPG aspect. Acxiom, the information powerhouse acquired by IPG in 2018, may even slot beneath the Omnicom Media umbrella, as will Annalect, an Omnicom information agency. Omnicom Media may even oversee a handful of specialised service organizations together with Omnicom Media Well being, monetary companies group Ptarmigan, cloud consulting group TRKKN, Optimum Sports activities, leisure and sports activities agency Fuse, and influencer store Creo.Management of Omnicom Media will primarily be made up of executives from the previous Omnicom Media Group. Exceptions embrace Justin Wroe, who shall be chief business officer and was beforehand the U.S. CEO of IPG Mediabrands. Daniel Fox, IPG Mediabrands’ chief funding officer, and Jonathan Rigby, its chief technique officer, will tackle the identical titles beneath the brand new Omnicom Media banner. Learn Kiernan’s full e mail to employees under:Whats up everybody,I’ve been giving this second numerous thought now that we’re on the beginning line of our subsequent chapter. In an business constructed on unimaginable expertise and highly effective capabilities that drive progress for purchasers, we shall be a powerhouse! And as excited as I’m for what’s forward, I’m additionally stuffed with gratitude and satisfaction as I replicate on how we’ve grown collectively as a workforce and the way far we’ve come.As you’ll have seen from latest updates, our coming collectively as Omnicom Media brings change, together with new management in Florian Adamski. I’ve spent appreciable time with Flo over the previous couple of months and have seen firsthand how he’s embracing this chance with care and dedication. He’s intensely client-focused, understands how crucial our groups are to success, and has a considerate and strategic strategy. We shall be in good fingers.As IPG Mediabrands evolves into the following chapter of Omnicom Media, regrettably we shall be saying goodbye to a variety of our individuals, together with a few of our international leaders. I need to thank all to your devoted service, unwavering dedication, partnership, and friendship, significantly over these previous three years. We’ve been lucky to have had this time collectively, and we want you all good issues within the chapter forward.As for me, after an unimaginable 14 years with IPG, I too shall be transferring on to embrace my subsequent journey—stuffed with household and mates. My departure gained’t be rapid, nevertheless. I’ll be staying on by the primary few months of 2026, serving to Flo with the transition to make sure a clean touchdown for you and our purchasers into the brand new Omnicom.Extra adjustments shall be introduced within the coming days, and I do know some might create uncertainty within the brief time period. However right here’s what gained’t change: our shared dedication to excellence in consumer partnership, our continued funding in an unparalleled suite of related capabilities, and our dedication to a strong, unifying working mannequin. In reality, the transformational work carried out throughout crafts won’t be discarded—as an alternative will probably be developed and strengthened as a key a part of how Omnicom Media will arrange and function going ahead. It has been the distinction of my lifetime to journey alongside you these previous three+ years. I can’t wait to have fun the brand new heights you’ll undoubtedly obtain.Keep centered, hold shining—I’ll be cheering you on, loudly and proudly.Thanks,Eileen KiernanGlobal CEO, IPG Mediabrands