Published on: September 10, 2026
Omnicom Advertising has named Andrew Robertson as its new CEO, following Troy Ruhanen’s decision to retire after more than 20 years in senior leadership roles across the Omnicom network.
Ruhanen’s departure follows the completion of Omnicom Advertising’s integration after Omnicom’s combination with Interpublic. The company said the process has established a strong foundation for the advertising business and its future growth.
Omnicom Chairman and CEO John Wren credited Ruhanen with playing an important role in the organisation’s development and in bringing the combined business together while strengthening its ability to serve clients and create opportunities for employees.
“Troy has been an exceptional leader whose impact on Omnicom and our industry cannot be overstated. His leadership was instrumental in bringing together our combined organization while strengthening our ability to serve clients and create opportunities for our people. We are grateful for his many contributions and wish him every success in retirement,” Wren said.
Robertson, who serves as Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, takes on the role of CEO of Omnicom Advertising with immediate effect. He brings more than two decades of leadership experience within Omnicom, along with expertise in managing global brands, building client relationships and developing high-performing teams.
During the transition, Robertson will work closely with Ruhanen to maintain continuity across the advertising business.
Wren highlighted Robertson’s experience within Omnicom and his understanding of its clients and the wider industry as key strengths as the company continues to advance its advertising operations.
“Andrew is a proven leader with a deep understanding of Omnicom, our clients, and our industry. I look forward to working with him on the continued development of our advertising group, particularly his commitment to ensuring creativity remains at the core of what we do as we advance our AI and technology capabilities,” Wren added.
Ruhanen said the completion of the integration marked the right point for him to step away from the company.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to work alongside some of the most talented people in our industry. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. With the integration complete, this is the right moment for me to retire. I have profound confidence in Andrew and our leadership team,” he said.
As he assumes the CEO role, Robertson said Omnicom Advertising will prioritise attracting leading creative and strategic talent while leveraging the group’s AI and data capabilities through Omni to strengthen client outcomes.
“Our plan is clear,” said Robertson. “Secure a disproportionate share of the world’s most exciting creative and strategic minds, equip them – through Omni – with the industry’s most advanced AI enabled tools and data, to deliver exceptional results for a client list that is the envy of our competitors.”
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