Omnicom Advertising appoints Andrew Robertson as CEO; Troy Ruhanen to retire
Andrew Robertson is currently Chairman of BBDO Worldwide
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Published: Sep 10, 2026 8:19 AM | 3 min read
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- Troy Ruhanen is retiring as CEO of Omnicom Advertising after over 20 years in senior leadership roles, following the successful integration of Omnicom Advertising and Interpublic.
- Omnicom Chairman and CEO John Wren praised Ruhanen's contributions to the organization and its evolution, emphasizing his role in enhancing client support and employee opportunities.
- Andrew Robertson, previously Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, has been appointed as the new CEO of Omnicom Advertising, effective immediately, and will work with Ruhanen during the transition.
- Robertson plans to focus on attracting top creative talent and leveraging Omnicom's AI and data capabilities to improve client outcomes.
Omnicom Advertising CEO Troy Ruhanen is stepping down from the company after more than two decades in senior leadership positions across the Omnicom network.
Ruhanen’s retirement comes after the completion of the integration of Omnicom Advertising following Omnicom’s combination with Interpublic, a process that the company said has created a strong platform for the advertising business going forward.
Omnicom Chairman and CEO John Wren described Ruhanen as a key figure in the organisation’s evolution, crediting him with helping bring the combined business together while enhancing its ability to support clients and create opportunities for employees.
“Troy has been an exceptional leader whose impact on Omnicom and our industry cannot be overstated. His leadership was instrumental in bringing together our combined organization while strengthening our ability to serve clients and create opportunities for our people. We are grateful for his many contributions and wish him every success in retirement,” Wren said.
Andrew Robertson, Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, has been named CEO of Omnicom Advertising with immediate effect. Robertson has also spent more than 20 years in leadership roles within Omnicom and brings extensive experience in managing global brands, developing client relationships and building high-performing teams.
Robertson will work alongside Ruhanen during the transition to ensure continuity as he takes over the leadership of the advertising business.
Wren said Robertson’s experience and understanding of the company would be important as Omnicom continues to develop its advertising operations.
“Andrew is a proven leader with a deep understanding of Omnicom, our clients, and our industry. I look forward to working with him on the continued development of our advertising group, particularly his commitment to ensuring creativity remains at the core of what we do as we advance our AI and technology capabilities,” Wren added.
Reflecting on his departure, Ruhanen said the completion of the integration made it an appropriate time to retire.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to work alongside some of the most talented people in our industry. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. With the integration complete, this is the right moment for me to retire. I have profound confidence in Andrew and our leadership team,” he said.
Robertson said the advertising group would focus on attracting leading creative and strategic talent while using Omnicom’s AI and data capabilities to deliver stronger outcomes for clients.
“Our plan is clear,” said Robertson. “Secure a disproportionate share of the world’s most exciting creative and strategic minds, equip them – through Omni – with the industry’s most advanced AI enabled tools and data, to deliver exceptional results for a client list that is the envy of our competitors.”
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