Omnicom Media Asia Pacific, an Omnicom Connected Capability, has announced a landmark investment in its people, committing to roll out a major relational skills development programme across its client-facing leadership teams at scale.
Over 2,000 employees across all levels, from junior coordinators through to senior leaders, will complete the initiative over the coming years, representing one of the largest, coordinated investments in relational and behavioural capability the region has undertaken.
Omnicom Media Asia Pacific
The initiative marks a significant step in Omnicom Media’s evolution following the merger, embedding a Client Success discipline at the core of how the organisation works with clients.
The move comes as clients across APAC increasingly expect deeper, more authentic partnerships from their agency partners. While the industry has become highly effective at delivering media and creative solutions, Omnicom Media believes the next phase of growth will come from strengthening how teams understand client pressures, organisational dynamics, and unspoken business challenges.
Paul Hawkey, Chief Client Success Officer, Omnicom Media Asia Pacific, said, “We’re investing in our people because every client interaction matters. When our teams genuinely understand their clients’ pressures and challenges, they respond with real value. What makes this investment different is the scale. We’re not developing relational capability for a few senior leaders. Instead, we’re embedding it across our entire client-facing organisation. Every coordinator, planner, strategist, manager and leader will have the behavioural and psychological foundations to listen, understand, and create authentic partnerships. That consistency transforms how clients experience us as an organisation.”
A strategic investment in organizational capability
The programme spans all levels of Omnicom Media’s APAC organisation, with customised learning pathways for different roles. It focuses on three core pillars:
- Relational Insight & Empathy – Understanding client psychology, organisational pressures, and unspoken needs through deeper listening.
- Building Psychological Safety – Creating trust and honest dialogue so clients feel comfortable sharing true challenges.
- Human-Centred Value Creation – Translating relational understanding into strategic recommendations that drive measurable business impact.
For employees, the program represents a long-term investment in career development, providing globally recognised behavioural capability that extends well beyond their current roles. For clients, it ensures access to highly trained teams applying proven, evidence-based approaches to understanding and solving business challenges.
“This isn’t training for training’s sake,” said Hawkey. “When you embed relational capability across 2,000+ people at every level, you’re improving decision-making at scale. That leads to better listening, better recommendations, and ultimately, better commercial outcomes for our clients and for Omnicom Media.”
Paul Cowan, co-founder of The Academy of Relationship Management, added, “Omnicom Media have created a breakthrough programme combining unprecedented scale with a revolutionary training approach in the psychology and practical skills of client relationship management. This is a powerful statement of their commitment to their teams and clients”.
Program details
- 2,000+ participants across all levels of APAC organisation.
- Customised learning pathways for different roles.
- Phased rollout beginning Q4 2026, continuing into 2027 and 2028.
- Behavioral skill development combined with practical business application.
- Ongoing relational coaching and peer learning embedded in organisational practice.
