Omnicom Public Relations Group Taps David Gallagher to Drive International Growth and Development

NEW YORK and LONDON, Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom Public Relations Group today announced the appointment of David Gallagher to president, growth and development, international. In this new position, Gallagher will lead initiatives to deliver enhanced connection amongst the group's agency brands internationally. He will be focused on areas including building integrated client teams, talent development, new business development and new client service propositions, working closely with agency leadership teams to optimize the group's performance. Gallagher will report to Omnicom Public Relations Group CEO Karen van Bergen, and will be based in London.

"David brings a global mindset and proven success facilitating connection and collaboration amongst a diverse set of agencies, leading to expansion and growth," said van Bergen. "His experience and expertise will be instrumental as we bring heightened focus to our international presence across all Omnicom PR Group agencies. We're thrilled to welcome him to the team."

Gallagher joins Omnicom Public Relations Group from Ketchum, where he has served as a partner and European CEO since 2011. Under his leadership, Ketchum's network in Europe has grown and developed into one of the region's largest and most awarded, including being named Large Agency of the Year by the Holmes Report in 2010, and EMEA network of the year for 2013 by the same publication.

Prior to leading Ketchum in Europe, Gallagher ran the agency's London office and served as head of its European healthcare practice. He joined Ketchum in Europe in 2000, after running the agency's healthcare group in Washington, DC since 1994.

"David has been a driving force in Ketchum's European region for more than 16 years, and within our global network since 1994," said Rob Flaherty, CEO and chairman, Ketchum. "We have been fortunate to benefit from his steadfast leadership over that time, and couldn't be more proud to see him bring his talents to the larger group within Omnicom Public Relations Group, where we will no doubt continue to benefit from his smart, progressive vision for this business. I'm confident he'll accomplish a great deal in this new role and I look forward to working with him for years to come."

Gallagher is recognized as an industry thought-leader, championing innovation, collaboration and social responsibility within Ketchum and the wider marketing services community. He chaired the UK Public Relations Consultants Association from 2008-10 and currently chairs that organization's board of fellows. He was president of the global PR agency trade body, the International Communications Consultancy Organization from 2013-15, and currently serves as vice president. He was PR jury president at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2013, and helped establish Creative For Good, a digital initiative to showcase public education initiatives in partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Advertising Council. He received the Atlas Award for Lifetime Achievement in International PR in 2014, the Mark Mellor Medal from the UK PRCA for industry leadership 2014 and the SABRE Individual Achievement Award from the Holmes Report earlier this year.

"Omnicom Public Relations Group has the scale and assets in its brands to transform the public relations business around the world, and I am delighted to be offered this opportunity to play a role," Gallagher said. "This is a new chapter for me but happily one that continues long lines of friendship and collaboration with so many brilliant people in the group, and I'm looking forward to charting new territory with them all."

About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, public health and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies.

About the DAS Group of Companies
The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

SOURCE Omnicom Public Relations Group