MEDIA agency OMD has been chosen by Adweek as global media agency of the year for the second year running.

Adweek, a leading industry publication, credited OMD for “extending its streak of consolidating big global accounts for a second straight year, with an offering backed by highly regarded planning and analytics tools and reinforced with new and creative uses of media”. It added that OMD had achieved “substantial billings and revenue growth during a year when most clients cut their budgets sharply”.

OMD Worldwide CEO Mainardo de Nardis said in a Jan 27 press release issued by the agency that the win reaffirmed OMD’s commitment to constantly challenge itself in  a “dramatically changed world”.

Last year, OMD took advantage of the uncertain economy by developing savings-centric solutions that resulted in higher client retention and a higher number of new business wins. The agency’s substantial global media businesses, consistent strategic integration and creative innovation led to more than US$2.5 billion (RM8.57billion) in new business last year.

Part of US-listed Omnicom Group Inc, OMD is the largest media communications agency network in the world. For four consecutive years since 2004, it has been named by the Gunn Report for Media, which evaluates global media creativity, as the most creative agency in the world.

Among OMD’s global clients are GE, Intel, McDonald’s, PepsiCo, FedEx, Visa and Exxon Mobil. OMD Malaysia’s clients include Panasonic, Toyota and Munchy’s.

\This article appeared on the Media & Advertising page, The Edge Financial Daily, Feb 2, 2010.