Cheuk Chiang departs OMG; company names new APAC CEO

Cheuk Chiang has stepped down from the role of Omnicom Media Group chief executive officer after nearly a decade leading first PHD and then OMG.

Chiang became regional head of PHD in 2008 and took over the top job at OMG in 2013.

OMG has promoted Tony Harradine, OMG’s chief investment officer for Asia-Pacific, to CEO. In his most recent role, Singapore-based Harradine led investment, accountability and strategic partnerships in the region. He was previously the chief investment officer for OMG in Australia.

A regional OMG conference scheduled to take place next week in Singapore has abruptly been cancelled, Campaign understands.

Speaking to Campaign, Chiang—who is planning to return to Melbourne to spend time with his family—confirmed the news.

He said: “For the past 10 years, I have been extremely proud of the achievements of the group in terms of delivering growth and the work we have done for our clients. The team at OMG is strong and I am confident will continue to drive growth in the region. I have put my heart and soul into this business and it’s now time to invest in what matters most to me, my family.”

“Tony’s experiences make him an excellent choice to lead APAC," Daryl Simm, global CEO and chairman of OMG, said in a statement. "He has true multi-market perspective, having taken on roles in Europe, North America and Australia before moving to his current APAC position in 2016. His appreciation of local differences is critical given the cultural scope of APAC. At the same time, he understands the requirements to deliver consistent solutions on international clients."

Said Harradine: “Today, we embark on a new journey in the region, taking bolder steps to define a new breed of products that anticipate and meet our clients’ evolving needs. As our business continues to transform, so do our strategies and objectives. I look forward to working with the teams across the region on driving the change for the industry, owning the opportunities presented to us by ongoing disruption, and continuing our group’s success story in Asia Pacific.”