McCallen returns to a regional leadership role after serving as Asia Pacific Chief Strategy Officer at OMD.

Omnicom Media has appointed David McCallen as Chief Strategy Officer for Asia Pacific, effective immediately. In the role, he will focus on strategic excellence across the region, driving fresh thinking and innovation in client solutions while supporting the next phase of growth for OM Asia Pacific.

McCallen has relocated from Auckland to Singapore for the role and will work with markets across APAC to develop breakthrough strategies, adapt global strategy for local markets, and strengthen strategic talent through coaching and capability development. He will report to Tony Harradine, CEO, OM Asia Pacific.

With more than 20 years of experience across APAC, Oceania and Europe, McCallen has worked across agency and client-side roles spanning CX, creative and media. He previously served as Asia Pacific Chief Strategy Officer at OMD, where he spent four years.

During his tenure, OMD’s Asia Pacific network moved from #5 to #1 in RECMA rankings and has continued to hold the top position in the region. Before taking on the regional role, McCallen led strategy at OMD New Zealand for five years, helping the agency reach the top position in the market across new business, overall billings and award wins.

Commenting on the appointment, Tony Harradine, CEO, OM Asia Pacific, 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. 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.”

David McCallen added, “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. 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.”