We鈥檙e starting the year by asking CEOs, CMOs, and CCOs to reflect on their best and worst of 2024, and hopes and fears for 2025. Today: Omnicom Media Group CMO Kim Hamilton, who started in the role last year and spent it watching her son grow up through kindy, her stepson get married, and a changing of the guard at OMG.
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2024 involved a changing of the guard at Omnicom Media Group: stalwart Peter Horgan stepped down as CEO after 21 years with the business, chief investment officer Kristiaan Kroon became chief operations officer, and Kim Hamilton started in the newly-created role of chief marketing officer.
鈥2024 was a pivotal year for me,鈥 Kim tells 天美棋牌. 鈥淎fter 11 incredible years at OMD, I made the leap into my current role as CMO at OMG. It wasn鈥檛 an easy decision, OMD had been such a significant part of my career and felt like home, but it was absolutely the right move.
鈥淚鈥檓 so energised and passionate about the marketing and growth work we are doing across the Group. Our marketing team is truly exceptional, some of the best in the industry, and I鈥檓 excited about how we鈥檙e supporting the business in fresh, impactful, and new ways.鈥
Looking down the barrel of the first quarter of 2025, Kim is eager for the 鈥渇resh chapter鈥 that comes with a new phase of leadership. She is confident OMG鈥檚 leadership will 鈥渂uild on the strong foundation that鈥檚 been laid, driving our business forward with energy and vision.鈥
鈥淲orking alongside KK [Kristiaan Kroon] and the rest of our ex-co team is a huge source of energy and enthusiasm for me,鈥 she adds.
鈥淚鈥檝e said it before, I鈥檓 so passionate about OMG and our people. Our client roster is exceptional, and we have so much talent under our roof.鈥
Of Peter Horgan鈥檚 exit, Kim says, 鈥淗is leadership has been instrumental in shaping our business, and I have the utmost respect for all he has done for our company and its people.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a privilege to work with him, and he will certainly be missed, not just for his wisdom and guidance, but also for the dry humour and perspective he brought to every situation. He鈥檒l remain a close friend to us all.鈥
Broadly, it was a challenging year for the industry, because 鈥済rowth was tougher to come by, structural changes became more frequent, and many talented individuals faced career uncertainties.鈥
It was an easy year in many ways for her, though. Her son Alfie started kindergarten - 鈥渉e absolutely loved it and poured so much effort into everything he did鈥 - and watched her stepson Lalakai get married.
鈥淲e celebrated with a small, family wedding on Waiheke Island in New Zealand at the end of the year. It was truly perfect鈥攁 magical moment for our family to come together and create memories that will last forever.鈥
Her second stepson, Beau, is getting married this year in October, so she is 鈥渙nce again gearing up for another family wedding which just makes me giddy with excitement.鈥
Then there鈥檚 the family home that鈥檚 being built, and has been 鈥渁bout four years in the making鈥, so she is looking forward to 鈥渨atch that come up around us and become our forever family home.鈥
There isn鈥檛 fear offsetting the excitement, professionally or personally. She knows change is inevitable, and it presents an opportunity. As Kim puts it, 鈥渢he best will adapt quickly and evolve.鈥
鈥淲hile it can be uncomfortable at first, I find that it doesn鈥檛 take me long to shift my mindset to one of optimism,鈥 she adds.
鈥淭he only thing that I find challenging is not having a plan. Once I have a clear direction, I鈥檓 confident I can handle whatever comes my way.鈥