PETALING JAYA: Winnie Chen-Head has been appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Omnicom Media Group (OMG) Malaysia.
OMG is the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc.
In her new role, Chen-Head will lead strategy, operations, and the development and adoption of transformative capabilities, guiding the organisation through its next stage of growth.
Reporting to Tony Harradine, CEO of OMG Asia Pacific, Chen-Head will officially take the helm at OMG Malaysia on March 19.
She succeeds Eileen Ooi, who was named CEO of PHD Asia Pacific last year.
“Chen-Head steps into this role at a pivotal time, building on a strong foundation of success,” said Harradine.
“As one of the most respected, tested and proven leaders in the market, Chen-Head has the experience and expertise to take OMG Malaysia into its next phase of growth, delivering transformative experiences for our clients, their customers and our people.”
With over 24 years of experience in marketing across a diverse range of sectors, Chen-Head has earned a reputation in the industry for high impact strategies, which drive results for clients and organisations.
She most recently held the position of managing director, media at Dentsu Malaysia.
Chen-Head told StarBiz that she was drawn to joining OMG Malaysia as CEO because of the group’s stellar reputation for innovation and performance.
“I value transformative strategies that drive growth,” she said.
“The differentiated vision of OMG’s agency as a platform proposition, combined with a culture of collaboration and creativity, aligns perfectly with my passion for leveraging innovative thinking to help clients achieve their business goals.”
The appointment comes at a period of strong momentum for OMG, having achieved industry accolades such as the title of “Best Performing Media Network” by media research company Recma last year, with its media agencies PHD and OMD Malaysia attaining the number one and two spots, respectively, in vitality.
OMG Malaysia has also continued to expand its portfolio during this time, winning and retaining a number of brands including OPPO, Wipro Unza, CelcomDigi, Vinda and Friesland Campina.
Chen-Head said that her aim is to capitalise on the agency’s robust year to drive further success.
“My vision is to establish us as the premier partner for client growth, which is especially needed in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape.
“It is the right time for some disruption, innovation and excitement,” she said.
As she enters the new role, Chen-Head said that one of her top priorities will be on enhancing OMG Malaysia’s data-driven capabilities, powered by its industry-leading Omni operating platform, as well as its varied specialist capabilities, to bring clients a greater competitive advantage.
Another key focus will be driving new business growth and positioning the agency as a strategic hub for South-East Asia by prioritising client success, operational excellence and a future-proof mindset.
Additionally, cultivating and developing talent is also high on the agenda for Chen-Head.
“As a people leader, I am committed to building the strongest team in the industry, fostering a culture of collaboration and transformative expertise,” she said.
As the advertising industry navigates an increasingly fast-changing landscape in the next few years, she opines that a renewed emphasis on future-proofing marketing strategies will be critically needed to address the upcoming challenges.
“Adapting swiftly, prioritising customer-centric approaches and fostering continuous innovation will be essential,” she said.
“Currently, many agencies and brands are caught in a ‘sea of sameness’, grappling with content overload and underutilising data-driven decision-making, while missing out on the potential of emerging technologies.”
There are, however, significant opportunities for both agencies and clients to grow and thrive in this environment.
“To address the ‘what’, ‘where’, and ‘how’, we must champion creativity in media that challenges traditional key performance indicators and fosters deeper collaboration across the ecosystem.” she said.
“The evolving media landscape is ripe for disruption, moving beyond conventional inventories and ad spaces.”
According to Chen-Head, this can be achieved through leveraging new platforms, technologies and tools, such as automation, machine learning capabilities and artificial intelligence for operational efficiencies.
Agencies and clients can also seek to forge partnerships that focus on collaboration rather than just inventory, she added.
“Most importantly, we must maintain flexibility and agility to evolve continuously while challenging one another with a shared vision,” she stresses.
“Together, we can raise both the floor and the ceiling, driving meaningful change in our industry.”
