Ceremony at City Hall Brings Business and Diversity Leaders Together To Launch EffortNEW YORK, Dec 17, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Omnicom Group Inc., a leading global and corporate communications company, announced the creation of the Omnicom Diversity Development Advisory Committee (DDAC), which will focus on the development of initiatives that will enhance diversity at Omnicom, and by extension, throughout the advertising industry. Omnicom has committed $1.25 million over five years to this initiative.

Omnicom's President and Chief Executive Officer John D. Wren stated, "I am proud to stand with H. Carl McCall, Omnicom's DDAC Chair, and lead this unprecedented effort to enhance diversity in the advertising industry. I am especially grateful for the leadership of City Council Speaker Quinn and Council Member Seabrook in this important endeavor."

City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn said, "The City Council has long been advocating for increased diversity in the advertising industry. I am extremely proud that the City Council, led by Council Member Seabrook, has worked closely with Omnicom to create this distinguished committee. With this commitment, Omnicom is placing itself at the forefront of diversity efforts in advertising, and we hope that this can serve as a model for the entire industry."

Council Member Seabrook said, "I thank CEO Wren and his team for working closely with the City Council for the past year and hope that the DDAC's efforts will transform the advertising industry into a model of diversity."

Omnicom's DDAC Chair H. Carl McCall stated, "I am honored to serve the DDAC and look forward to working with Committee members to identify and develop initiatives to improve diversity in the advertising industry."

The inaugural ceremony took place at New York City Hall and included City Council Speaker Quinn; Council Member and Chair, Civil Rights Committee, Larry B. Seabrook; Omnicom President and Chief Executive Officer Wren; other Omnicom executives; Omnicom DDAC members (listed below); Omnicom DDAC Executive Director, Priscilla A. Jenkins; and Weldon H. Latham, Diversity Legal Counsel to Omnicom and Counselor to the DDAC.

The Omnicom DDAC is comprised of eight (8) notable business and community leaders, as well as past and present Omnicom executives.

     * DDAC Chair, H. Carl McCall-Director of several public corporations,
       including Tyco International and Ariel Mutual Fund; former New York
       State Comptroller and State Senator; Trustee of the State University of
       New York.
     * Darwin M. Davis, Jr.-President and CEO, New York Urban League; has
       served on various nonprofit advisory boards, including the New York
       City Procurement Advisory Board and the Consortium of Central Harlem
       Development, which successfully built $125 million in housing and
       commercial property in Central Harlem during the 1990s.
     * R. Vann Graves-Vice President, Associate Creative Director, BBDO (an
       Omnicom operating company); former co-chair of the executive board for
       the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Multicultural
       Advertising Intern Program (MAIP), Board of Managers at the Harlem
       YMCA, and Board of Trustees for the Pratt Institute.
     * James Mtume-Radio personality, two-time Grammy Award winning producer
       and writer; worked with Miles Davis between 1971-1975.
     * Maria Valentina Nunes-Private consultant; former Senior Director of
       Interbrand (an Omnicom operating company) and President and Chief
       Operating Officer of Desgrippes Gobe Group.
     * Sharon Robinson-Director of Educational Programming, Major League
       Baseball; daughter of legendary baseball hero and American icon Jackie
       Robinson.
     * MarySol Rodriguez-Vice President, Government Affairs, Partnership for
       New York City (non-profit membership organization comprised of a
       selected group of 200 Chief Executive Officers); serves on the Mayor's
       Task Force on Diversity in Film, Television, and Commercial Production,
       the Clear Channel Local Advisory Board, and the NYC Hispanic Chamber of
       Commerce; received El Diario La Prensa 2003 Outstanding Latina Award.
     * Tom W. Watson-Former Omnicom Vice Chairman and Dean, Omnicom
       University; recipient of the 2007 Advertising Production Person of the
       Year (APPY) Award.

Weldon Latham, Counselor to the DDAC, Chair of the Corporate Diversity Counseling Group of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and advisor to numerous Fortune 500 clients on corporate diversity matters, praised John Wren for his leadership in establishing the DDAC, and congratulated the New York City Council and DDAC members for their commitments to this important endeavor. Latham stated, "With team work from leaders of the New York City Council and the largest worldwide marketing and communications company, achieving diversity representation can be changed from a persistent problem to a competitive edge."

Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

    Contact:  Pat Sloan
              212-415-2109

              Anthony Hogrebe (Council) -
              (212) 788-7157; (646) 263-1487

              Lonnie Soury
              Soury Communications
              212-414-5857
              lsoury@aol.com

SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc.

http://www.omnicomgroup.com/