Troy Ruhanen, president and chief executive officer of Omnicom Advertising, is retiring after more than 20 years in leadership roles across the holding company. Andrew Robertson, chairman of Omnicom agency network, BBDO Worldwide, for the last two years, capping early twenty-three years at the agency and twenty as president & CEO, has been appointed CEO of Omnicom Advertising, effective immediately. In the press release, Ruhanen’s decision follows, “the successful integration of Omnicom Advertising after the combination of Omnicom and Interpublic, which established a strong foundation for the future.”  The two men will work together on the transition.

Ruhanen started his career at BBDO in Australia, eventually joining Leo Burnett Sydney in 2000 as managing director. He rejoined BBDO in 2004, but in New York and as managing director, and he became Chairman and CEO of the Americas in 2011. After nearly 9 years at BBDO, he was appointed president and global CEO of TBWA\Worldwide, and eleven years later. In January 2025, president and CEO of the newly formed Omnicom Advertising group.

“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 organisation 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,” stated John Wren, chairman and CEO of Omnicom.

“Our plan is clear,” Robertson commented, “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.”

Cover image l-r: Troy Ruhanen to retire & Andrew Robertson