Published on: September 3, 2026
Singapore, 3 September, 2026 — Omnicom Media (OM), an Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Connected Capability, has appointed David McCallen as Chief Strategy Officer for Asia Pacific, effective immediately, to guide strategic excellence across the region, bring fresh thinking and innovation to client solutions, and help define the next chapter of growth for OM Asia Pacific.
The appointment comes as OM establishes Strategy as a core discipline within its global operating model, bringing together exceptional minds across the region to apply human ingenuity, evidence-based research, cultural understanding, and leverage OM’s connected capabilities to help clients navigate the complex marketplace and orchestrate transformational growth.
David, who relocated to Singapore from Auckland for the role, will shape breakthrough strategies for clients, partner with markets to localise and operationalise global strategy across APAC, and inspire and grow local strategic teams through coaching and capability development. He reports to Tony Harradine, CEO, OM Asia Pacific.
David brings more than 20 years of proven expertise across APAC, Oceania, and Europe, spanning both agency and client-side experience in CX, creative, and media. He is adept at designing strategies that connect data, creativity, and media to achieve measurable business impact. Formerly Asia Pacific Chief Strategy Officer at OM agency, OMD, David is renowned for translating complex briefs into compelling strategic narratives and shaping winning approaches across new business pitches and major client transformation initiatives.
During David’s four-year tenure as OMD Asia Pacific’s Chief Strategy Officer, the agency network leapt from #5 to #1 in RECMA rankings and remains dominant in the region. OMD was also crowned APAC Media Network of the Year at Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year Awards for two consecutive years, the first time in nearly 20 years, and won APAC Digital Innovation Network of the Year in 2025. Before stepping into the regional role, David led strategy at OMD New Zealand for five successful years, helping OMD attain the top place in the market for new business, overall billings, and award wins. This included winning Campaign Asia’s Media Agency of the Year four times in five years and runner-up for Global Media Agency of the Year.
Commenting on the appointment, Tony Harradine, CEO, OM Asia Pacific, said, “David’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. David 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.”
David added, “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.”
Read more: Conran Design Mumbai strengthens leadership with the appointment of Tazeen Shaikh and Jervin D’Souza
