Omnicom Hires Susan Catalano as First U.S. Chief People Officer

Omnicom has named Susan Catalano as U.S. chief people officer, a new role at the company, it shared on Wednesday.

Catalano will lead the company’s human resources organization in the U.S. as it awaits regulatory approval of its proposed acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG).

Catalano will be based in New York and report directly to Omnicom chairman and CEO John Wren.

“Susan’s demonstrated ability to create innovative HR strategies in line with a company’s evolving business needs makes her a great fit to lead Omnicom’s people strategy,” said Wren in a statement shared with ADWEEK.

Catalano most recently served as managing partner, chief people officer and chief administrative officer at WeWork, where she oversaw all aspects of global HR. Before that, she spent over two decades in human resources and recruitment positions at Citi.

In a memo to employees obtained by ADWEEK, Wren noted Catalano’s hire comes at a critical moment for the company, and said she will bring key experience navigating companies through organizational change and economic uncertainty.

“This makes her a great fit to lead our people strategy, especially as we look ahead at the possibility of integrating Interpublic in the coming months,” he wrote.

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Catalano serves on the board of trustees at Hofstra University and has been a guest speaker at institutions including Harvard Business School and the University of Virginia.

“I am excited to step into this new role at such a pivotal time for Omnicom and to further strengthen its foundation, which is its talented people,” said Catalano in a statement. “It’s an honor to join a company that consistently sets the standard for excellence and creativity in a constantly evolving industry.”