Diana Marszalek 15 Jul 2021 // 4:13PM GMT
NEW YORK — Omnicom has named former PR group CEO Karen van Bergen the holding company’s chief environmental sustainability officer, a position she’ll assume while keeping her current job as dean of Omnicom University as well.
In the new role, van Bergen will be responsible for overseeing the company's climate change initiatives and processes which include setting measurable goals, policies and partnerships that will reduce its carbon footprint. She will report to chairman and CEO John Wren.
Creating the position is part of Omnicom’s larger effort to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. Nearly five years ago, the company established sustainability goals aimed at reducing its energy use while increasing use of renewable resources by 2023. Omnicom is also a founding member of the #ChangeTheBrief Alliance, a flagship initiative that calls for the agencies and clients to harness the power of advertising to promote sustainable consumer choices and behaviors.
Van Bergen has been serving as dean of Omnicom University since December 2019, when she relinquished the OPRG CEO role that she held since early 2016. The program is the holding company's long-standing management development initiative, with more than 5,000 global alumni.
In May, Omnicom ended its 18-month search for van Bergen’s replacement by hiring then-BCW North America president Chris Foster for the role.