Omnicom Media appoints David McCallen as APAC chief strategy officer

Omnicom Media has appointed David McCallen as chief strategy officer for Asia Pacific, effective immediately, as the network strengthens strategy as a core discipline within its global operating model.

He will oversee regional strategy, work with local markets to adapt Omnicom Media’s global framework and support the development of strategy teams across APAC.

McCallen will relocate from Auckland to Singapore for the role and report to Tony Harradine, CEO of Omnicom Media Asia Pacific. 

Focus on strategic growth

Harradine said, “David’s appointment reflects our commitment to strategic excellence across the region. His proven ability to elevate strategic thinking and drive transformational outcomes, as demonstrated by OMD’s remarkable rise within APAC, will be instrumental in shaping the future of our business.”

He added, “David brings the strategic rigour, creative insight, and commercial acumen we need to help our clients navigate an increasingly complex landscape and unlock genuine competitive advantage.”

McCallen said, “It’s a huge honour to take on this role. We’re at a point where the industry needs to rethink what great strategy looks like and build a model fit for the complexity our clients navigate every day. At the same time, APAC continues to be an increasingly important source of growth, innovation, and influence for the global industry.”

He further commented, “The depth of talent we now have across the region is immense. For me, the exciting part is bringing that talent together, building something genuinely different and proving what this region is capable of.”

McCallen joins from OMD

McCallen brings more than 20 years of experience across APAC, Oceania and Europe, spanning media, creative, customer experience and client-side roles.

He previously served as Asia Pacific chief strategy officer at OMD for four years, during which the network rose from fifth to first in RECMA’s regional rankings.

OMD was also named APAC Media Network of the Year at Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year Awards for two consecutive years and won APAC Digital Innovation Network of the Year in 2025.

He previously led strategy at OMD New Zealand for five years.