Omnicom pledges $1.25M to newly created diversity hiring initiative

(December 17, 2007) Omnicom Group Inc., the largest corporate owner of advertising agencies, announced the creation of the Omnicom Diversity Development Advisory Committee (DDAC), which will focus on the development of initiatives that will enhance diversity at Omnicom, and by extension, throughout the advertising industry. Omnicom has committed $1.25 million over five years to this initiative.

Omnicom's President and Chief Executive Officer John D. Wren stated, "I am proud to stand with H. Carl McCall (pictured), Omnicom's DDAC Chair, and lead this unprecedented effort to enhance diversity in the advertising industry. I am especially grateful for the leadership of City Council Speaker Quinn and Council Member Seabrook in this important endeavor."

City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn said, "The City Council has long been advocating for increased diversity in the advertising industry. I am extremely proud that the City Council, led by Council Member Seabrook, has worked closely with Omnicom to create this distinguished committee. With this commitment, Omnicom is placing itself at the forefront of diversity efforts in advertising, and we hope that this can serve as a model for the entire industry."

Council Member Seabrook said, "I thank CEO Wren and his team for working closely with the City Council for the past year and hope that the DDAC's efforts will transform the advertising industry into a model of diversity."

Omnicom's DDAC Chair H. Carl McCall stated, "I am honored to serve the DDAC and look forward to working with Committee members to identify and develop initiatives to improve diversity in the advertising industry."

The inaugural ceremony took place at New York City Hall and included City Council Speaker Quinn; Council Member and Chair, Civil Rights Committee, Larry B. Seabrook; Omnicom President and Chief Executive Officer Wren; other Omnicom executives; Omnicom DDAC members (listed below); Omnicom DDAC Executive Director, Priscilla A. Jenkins; and Weldon H. Latham, Diversity Legal Counsel to Omnicom and Counselor to the DDAC.

The Omnicom DDAC is comprised of eight notable business and community leaders, as well as past and present Omnicom executives:

DDAC Chair, H. Carl McCall — Director of several public corporations, including Tyco International and Ariel Mutual Fund; former New York State Comptroller and State Senator; Trustee of the State University of New York.

Darwin M. Davis, Jr. — President and CEO, New York Urban League; has served on various nonprofit advisory boards, including the New York City Procurement Advisory Board and the Consortium of Central Harlem Development, which successfully built $125 million in housing and commercial property in Central Harlem during the 1990s.

R. Vann Graves — Vice President, Associate Creative Director, BBDO (an Omnicom operating company); former co-chair of the executive board for the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP), Board of Managers at the Harlem YMCA, and Board of Trustees for the Pratt Institute.

James Mtume — Radio personality, two-time Grammy Award winning producer and composer; worked with Miles Davis between 1971-1975.

Maria Valentina Nunes — Private consultant; former Senior Director of Interbrand (an Omnicom operating company) and President and Chief Operating Officer of Desgrippes Gobe Group.

Sharon Robinson — Director of Educational Programming, Major League Baseball; daughter of legendary baseball hero and American icon Jackie Robinson.

MarySol Rodriguez — Vice President, Government Affairs, Partnership for New York City (non-profit membership organization comprised of a selected group of 200 Chief Executive Officers); serves on the Meeayor's Task Force on Diversity in Film, Television, and Commercial Production, the Clear Channel Local Advisory Board, and the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; received El Diario La Prensa 2003 Outstanding Latina Award.

Tom W. Watson — Former Omnicom Vice Chairman and Dean, Omnicom University; recipient of the 2007 Advertising Production Person of the Year (APPY) Award.

Weldon Latham, Counselor to the DDAC, Chair of the Corporate Diversity Counseling Group of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and advisor to numerous Fortune 500 clients on corporate diversity matters, said, "With team work from leaders of the New York City Council and the largest worldwide marketing and communications company, achieving diversity representation can be changed from a persistent problem to a competitive edge."

Omnicom Group Inc.'s (www.omnicomgroup.com) 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.


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