AUCKLAND, Today: OMD is bringing in Blair Alexander as New Zealand CEO from 2 March, stepping in to steer operations and shape future-ready capabilities for the agency’s next growth phase. He reports to Nikki Grafton.
Blair arrives with 20+ years across media leadership, transformation, and strategy, known for collaborative thinking, client-first leadership, and turning complex challenges into strong commercial results through tech, insight, and integrated comms.
Previously, Blair led IPG’s three Kiwi media brands, FCB Media, UM, and Initiative, delivering major growth, record revenue, and wins including Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Chorus, the New Zealand Electoral Commission, and One NZ.
In 2023, he launched Initiative locally to shake up the market. Within months, the agency landed ASB, highlighting both momentum and his track record for building high-performing teams.
During his time there, FCB Media became New Zealand’s most awarded media agency, collecting 50+ Gold Beacons, four Best in Show titles, and a global WARC Grand Prix for Best Use of Data.
“OMD has been a fierce competitor in New Zealand for several years, with a great long-term track record and exceptional talent.” – Blair Alexander
Commenting on the appointment, Nikki Grafton, CEO, OM New Zealand, said, “Securing a leader of Blair’s calibre, with his reputation for trusted client relationships and transformational leadership, was a priority for us.
“Blair is the ideal choice to bring the full strength of Omnicom’s global capabilities to our OMD clients and partners. His ability to harness technology, global intellectual property, and deep strategic insight — and apply them in ways that is relevant to the New Zealand market — will create significant value for our clients.
“He is also known for building skilled, loyal teams with a deep understanding of clients’ businesses, which consistently delivers strong commercial outcomes.”
Blair said, “OMD has been a fierce competitor in New Zealand for several years, with a great long-term track record and exceptional talent. The evolved structure of the team, powered by the collective resources of Omnicom Media, particularly in the AI and tech space, were compelling reasons to lead this team.
“The ability to unleash this combined capability and create what’s next for our clients has huge potential. Bring it on!”
News on Blair’s successor at McCann, as the FCB Media brand shifts, is expected soon.
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