IPG Mediabrands chief Eileen Kiernan exits as Omnicom integration kicks in

NEW YORK: The Omnicom IPG shake-up is claiming a high-profile casualty. Eileen Kiernan, global chief executive of IPG Mediabrands, is set to leave as the network disappears into Omnicom Media in early 2026. Her departure, flagged in an internal memo, underlines the scale of upheaval ripping through the newly combined empire.

The $13bn takeover of Interpublic Group has already unleashed thousands of layoffs, the retirement of three long-standing agency brands and a boardroom reshuffle across continents. India has not been spared. Shashi Sinha shifts to strategic advisor while Amardeep Singh grabs the chief operating officer remit in the redesigned structure. Mediabrands itself shuts down as a standalone unit, absorbed into a single global media machine.

Kiernan, who took charge of Mediabrands in 2023 and previously led the Johnson & Johnson account, promised more change ahead. She thanked staff for commitment during a turbulent period and plans to stay through the first months of 2026 to ensure a smooth handover to Omnicom Media chief executive Florian Adamski.

The new Omnicom Media umbrella houses six network agencies: OMD, PHD and Hearts & Science from Omnicom, plus UM, Initiative and Mediahub from IPG. Omnicom Media Investment, Outdoor Media Group and Kinesso form the commercial spine, while Acxiom and Annalect anchor the data layer. Specialist units including Omnicom Media Health, Ptarmigan, TRKKN, Optimum Sports, Fuse and Creo bolt onto the structure.

Leadership will largely come from the Omnicom bench. Justin Wroe, until now US chief of Mediabrands, becomes chief commercial officer. Daniel Fox and Jonathan Rigby retain key seats as chief investment officer and chief strategy officer.

Industry watchers expect the merged giant to flex formidable media-buying muscle and tilt the flow of billions in global ad spend. The consolidation is far from over. The disruption has only just begun and the dust is nowhere close to settling.