Omnicom to merge PR firms Golin & Ketchum

After folding its PR firm Porter Novelli into FleishmanHillard (both from Omnicom fold), Omnicom is set to merge Golin and Ketchum as well to form another global brand agency, marking a significant consolidation within Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG) as the holding company reshapes its communications portfolio following the acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG).

According to an internal memo circulated by Omnicom last week, the combined entity will be led by Golin chief executive Matt Neale as CEO, with Ketchum’s Tamara Norman appointed global president. The two agencies will retain their individual brand identities during the integration phase. The agency has confirmed the news to e4m. 

Notably, Golin came from the IPG fold, while more than a century-old Ketchum has been an Omnicom group entity since the group acquired it three decades ago. It was not immediately clear which of the two brand names will be retained and whether the restructuring and merger also involves layoffs. 

e4m has earlier reported that Omnicom has integrated Porter Novelli into FleishmanHillard, with Porter Novelli becoming a dedicated brand within FleishmanHillard rather than operating as a standalone agency. J.J. Carter will continue as CEO of FleishmanHillard, while Porter Novelli CEO Jillian Janaczek will take on the role of Americas CEO within the combined structure. Porter Novelli is also a 50-year-old agency. 

In the memo, OPRG CEO Chris Foster said the two agencies are closely aligned across corporate affairs, reputation management, and purpose-led communications, and that the new structure is aimed at better connecting teams and capabilities to deliver more consistent outcomes across markets. 

Foster positioned the restructuring as part of a broader effort to define what a modern PR and communications organization should look like in the post-IPG acquisition environment, with a sharper focus on enabling clients to access the right expertise more quickly across corporate reputation, public affairs, marketing, and growth mandates.

The changes will be rolled out in phases through 2026. The company said client servicing will continue without disruption, with clients retaining their existing agency brands, teams, and day-to-day relationships.

The group also clarified that several parts of its PR portfolio remain unaffected by the restructuring. Weber Shandwick, MMC, and Omnicom’s public affairs firms—including DDC Public Affairs, GMMB, FP1 Strategies, Mercury Public Affairs, PLUS Communications, Portland Communications, and VOX Global—will continue to operate under existing leadership structures.

“Year one success is straightforward: no disruption to clients and faster access to the right expertise,” Foster said in the memo. “We retain key talent, improve coordination across teams and deliver more consistently across markets. Clients should feel it in how quickly we move and how seamless delivery becomes.”