Karen Van Bergen Named CEO of Porter Novelli

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC), announced today that Karen van Bergen has been named chief executive officer of global public relations leader Porter Novelli, effective January 1, 2013.  Highly regarded within the industry for leading multinational, integrated communications businesses, van Bergen joined the agency in January of 2012 to run the New York office.

According to Dale Adams, president and CEO of DAS, "Karen brings a unique global perspective to the role of CEO, having led numerous cross-border client assignments and managed multi-agency teams across the Omnicom network. Her innovative leadership style is one that prizes collaboration above all else, empowering teams to draw from the best possible resources – regardless of level or location – to deliver creative, business-building programs for clients.

"Karen's experience, her absolute client focus and her rigorous commitment to creating opportunities for growth among clients and staff make her the right choice to lead Porter Novelli," added Adams.

"I am truly privileged to have been asked to lead Porter Novelli," said van Bergen.  "The talented communications executives on our team are dedicated to collaboration and high performance in order to drive real and meaningful change for our clients. I am committed to our making an even greater impact, and to working with our global executive committee to ensure that Porter Novelli has the right blend of offerings and talent to best serve clients in a continuously evolving global business landscape." 

Prior to joining Porter Novelli, van Bergen was senior partner, senior vice president with Fleishman-Hillard, based in Amsterdam, where she spent nearly three years as the global leader for OneVoice – an integrated Omnicom offering that serves Royal Philips Electronics - managing 600 team members across more than 80 countries.  Prior to OneVoice, van Bergen was regional director for the Netherlands and Central and Eastern Europe for Fleishman-Hillard, and successfully spearheaded a variety of global and multi-country pitches including Unilever and NBC Universal.

Before Fleishman, van Bergen served two stints with McDonald's totaling more than 13 years.  She was chief of staff, vice president of corporate affairs for McDonald's Europe, part of a management team that introduced and executed a highly successful new European strategy.  She also held the director of marketing, communications and government relations post for McDonald's Central Europe/Central Asia division.  Earlier in her career, she was director of corporate affairs in Europe for the Outboard Marine Corporation.

Van Bergen takes over for Michael Ramah, who had served as acting CEO of Porter Novelli for the last six months. He will remain a member of van Bergen's executive committee.

About Porter Novelli

A global public relations leader, Porter Novelli was founded in 1972. In 90 offices in nearly 60 countries, Porter Novelli combines the power of immersion with the rigor of research to create deep human insights that enable the agency to transform the opinions, beliefs and behaviors of those who matter most to its clients. For additional information, please visit www.porternovelli.com. Porter Novelli is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

About Diversified Agency Services

Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc.

Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Contact:

Catherine Sullivan
[email protected]
212-601-8315

SOURCE Porter Novelli