OMD has 'Creative Inside'

The two-day OMD Academy event gathered more than 50 people from seven countries.

In order to sustain its creative credentials, particularly as its team grows in every country, the media specialist network chose to illustrate how creativity in media helps advertisers' message cut through the prevalent clutter with both theory and practice.

Two renowned speakers, Sweden's Stephen Engeseth, marketing consultant and author, and Ron de Pear, executive director of media auditing firm Billetts and previously with a number of media specialist networks, delivered interactive sessions. These were designed to help the audience of planners and buyers to enhance their creativity in order to conceptualise and deliver innovative communication ideas.

"We have seen the immense benefit of staging these events as part of our OMD Academy curriculum," said Elie Khouri, regional managing director of OmnicomMediaGroup, the holding company of OMD and PHD. "Besides upgrading the skills in a given topic, they help us integrate and consolidate our rapidly growing team."

Christine von Hoerde, director in charge of the OMD Academy added that innovation is a key differentiation factor. "Creativity or innovations in media go a long way in making the difference between brands, both our clients' and our own," she explained. "They take communication to a higher level, often more impactful and memorable."

"People are what makes an agency and OMD have very good people," commented Ron de Pear. "They are creating a consistent and distinctive culture around the world, one that is centered around individual and collective talent united by a common approach. Through this Academy, OMD is strengthening this culture."

It is precisely this culture of innovation that has helped OMD lead the second Gunn Report for Media. It is the second time in as many years that OMD was named the most awarded media agency.