Omnicom Media names new APAC strategy chief

Omnicom Media (OM) has appointed David McCallen (pictured) as chief strategy officer for Asia Pacific, effective immediately, as the media network looks to strengthen strategy as a core discipline across its regional operations.

Based in Singapore after relocating from Auckland, McCallen will be responsible for shaping strategies for clients across the region, working with individual markets to localise and operationalise OM's global strategy and developing its local strategy teams. He will report to Tony Harradine, CEO of Omnicom Media Asia Pacific.

McCallen brings more than 20 years of experience across APAC, Oceania and Europe, spanning agency and client-side roles across customer experience, creative and media.

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McCallen was previously chief strategy officer for Asia Pacific at OMD, where he spent four years leading strategy across the region. Prior to taking on the regional position, McCallen led strategy at OMD New Zealand for five years. He has also held roles at Colenso BBDO and DDB New Zealand.

The appointment comes as OM establishes strategy as a core discipline within its global operating model, bringing together research, cultural insights and its wider capabilities to support client growth.

“McCallen’s appointment reflects our commitment to strategic excellence across the region. His proven ability to elevate strategic thinking and drive transformational outcomes, as demonstrated by OMD’s remarkable rise within APAC, will be instrumental in shaping the future of our business," said Harradine.

He added, "McCallen brings the strategic rigour, creative insight, and commercial acumen we need to help our clients navigate an increasingly complex landscape and unlock genuine competitive advantage.”

Commenting on his new role, McCallen said, "It’s a huge honour to take on this role. We’re at a point where the industry needs to rethink what great strategy looks like and build a model fit for the complexity our clients navigate every day."

"At the same time, APAC continues to be an increasingly important source of growth, innovation, and influence for the global industry. The depth of talent we now have across the region is immense. For me, the exciting part is bringing that talent together, building something genuinely different and proving what this region is capable of," he added. 

McCallen’s appointment comes amid broader changes across Omnicom Media’s global agency network. Last week, Omnicom Media launched Hearts United, a new global media agency formed through the combination of Hearts & Science and Mediahub. The agency operates across 40 markets and represents approximately US$9.1 billion in 2025 billings.

Hearts United is led by Nicole Estebanell in the US and Ross Jenkins across EMEA, with leadership for APAC and LATAM expected to be named in the fourth quarter of 2026. Estebanell has served as CEO of Mediahub US since October 2024, having previously held senior roles at Initiative, Mindshare, Digitas and Ogilvy.

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