Strengthening its senior leadership team, OMD today announced the appointment of Steve Blakeman as Chief Executive Officer for the Asia Pacific region. Steve will lead OMD operations, drive existing client satisfaction as well as drive growth and enhance OMD’s value-proposition across the region.
 
Blakeman began his career at JWT and has over two decades of experience in advertising, media and marketing communications. Blakeman joins OMD from IPG, where he occupied the position of Chief Integration Strategy Officer, Asia Pacific, dividing his time between Universal McCann, Initiative and McCann Erickson on global clients such as Coca Cola, Johnson & Johnson and Mastercard. Blakeman has established a reputation for innovation and thought leadership by developing creative channel planning solutions and data driven analysis to deliver tangible business benefit to clients.
 
Commenting on the appointment, Barry Cupples, CEO, Omnicom Media Group, Asia Pacific said, “OMD is a powerful brand that thrives in a culture of creativity and collaboration and a leader like Steve will ensure that the OMD proposition stays at the forefront and helps the industry reach the next phase of development. I know he is excited about that as he sees the future in much the way we do at OMG.”
 
“Steve is a great guy, personable, results-oriented, dynamic marketing professional and his global and pan-regional experience will be an asset to for all of our clients, his team and colleagues. I welcome Steve to the OMD family and I am confident that he will rise to the challenge successfully and drive OMD’s continued growth and ambition in the region,” added Barry Cupples.
 
Prior to IPG, Steve worked as Managing Partner at Omnicom Media Group owned media agency, PHD where he successfully launched their second office in the UK.
Notable accolades received during Steve’s stellar career include: Media Week’s “30 under 30,” Adline “Agency Head of the Year,” as well as Adline “High Flyer”. He has been a judge at the Cannes Lions and is also on the judging panel at the Asian Marketing Effectiveness Festival 2011.
 
Steve Blakeman will commence his role at OMD at some point in the third quarter of 2011, reporting to Barry Cupples, CEO, Omnicom Media Group, Asia Pacific.