Ad Agency Giant Omnicom Appoints Susan Catalano as the Inaugural U.S. Head of Human Resources
Fresh Take:
Omnicom's just announced a PR shakeup, tapping Susan Catalano to take on the mantle as U.S. Chief People Officer – a fresh new gig for the company.
Catalano, a seasoned HR pro, is steering the helm of Omnicom's HR crew in the U.S. while awaiting green lights on their proposed buyout of Interpublic Group (IPG).
She'll make her home in the Big Apple, right under Omnicom's chairman and CEO, John Wren. Wren's thrilled, stating, "Susan's got a knack for dreaming up cutting-edge HR strategies that fit a company's moving landscape, making her a perfect fit for guiding Omnicom's people game plan."
Her recent stint was at WeWork, where she oversaw every aspect of their global HR. Before that, she spent over two decades at Citi, making waves in HR and recruitment roles.
Wren mentioned that Catalano's arrival hits the company at a crucial moment and shared that she's got a wealth of experience navigating companies through reorganization and economic bumps.
"With Susan onboard, she'll steer our ship through choppy waters, especially if we end up merging with IPG in the coming months," Wren wrote in a memo to employees.
Catalano serves on the Board of Trustees at Hofstra University and has spoken at top-notch institutions such as Harvard Business School and University of Virginia.
"Couldn't be more stoked to dive into this new job at Omnicom during such a pivotal time, and to fortify its strong base, the heart of which is its unbeatable people. It's an honor to be part of a trailblazing company that always leads the pack with both excellence and creativity in a fast-changing industry," Catalano shared in a statement.
Did You Know?Susan Catalano has more than a decade of experience under her belt in HR and leadership roles before joining Omnicom. Prior to her journey with Omnicom, she was the Managing Partner, Chief People Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer at WeWork, overseeing global HR operations. Besides that, she spent two decades at Citi, working her way up the ranks to Managing Director, Senior HR Officer, and Global Head of Recruitment. Catalano also serves on the Board of Trustees at Hofstra University and has shared insights as a guest speaker at prestigious institutions.
In her new role at Omnicom, a groundbreaking post, Catalano is accountable for spearheading the company's HR department in the United States, reporting directly to CEO John Wren. She brings expertise in organizational redesign, talent management, and transformational change to the table for Omnicom. When it comes to the potential merger with Interpublic Group, while the results don't specify Catalano’s individual role, her responsibilities as Chief People Officer probably involve overseeing talent and organizational aspects crucial for any merger process. Her experience in transformational change and HR leadership positions her to contribute significantly to managing workforce alignment, culture integration, and strategic talent management in such a scenario.
Overall, with her solid HR background and leadership skills, Catalano plays a pivotal role in shaping Omnicom’s people strategy and any future merger activities.
[References][1] https://www.bloombergquint.com/amp/business/people/susan-catalano-named-omnicoms-us-chief-people-officer[2] https://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/omnicom-names-susan-catalano-u-s-chief-people-officer/[4] https://www.linkedin.com/in/catalanosusan/
- In her new position at Omnicom, Susan Catalano will undoubtedly utilize her extensive experience in finance and business to shape the company's people strategy, especially during the potential merger with Interpublic Group.
- Catalano's appointment as U.S. Chief People Officer at Omnicom brings a wealth of knowledge in career development and organizational change, positioning her to guide the company's business operations efficiently.
