Global marketing and corporate communications company Omnicom Group announced today the appointment of Karen van Bergen as Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer, overseeing the company’s climate change initiatives and processes.

In her new role, van Bergen will be responsible for setting measurable goals, policies, and partnerships, aimed at reducing Omnicom’s carbon footprint. The new appointment is being made as Omnicom approaches the targeted completion in 2023 of its current sustainability goals, which include reducing energy usage and increasing the use of renewable resources.

John Wren, Chairman, and CEO of Omnicom said:

“By 2023, we will have exceeded our current sustainability goals and are committed to developing and implementing an even more ambitious climate action plan. Karen van Bergen is just the right leader for this effort given her long tenure with Omnicom and excellent previous experience with environmental initiatives at multinational corporations. Under her leadership, I have no doubt we will continue to raise the bar in minimizing the environmental impact of our global operations.”

Van Bergen joined Omnicom in 2007, most recently serving as EVP and Dean of Omnicom University, a position she will retain as she takes on her new responsibilities. Within Omnicom, she has held leadership roles at FleishmanHillard and Porter Novelli and was named the CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group in 2016.

For the past four years, she also served as the strategy officer for Omnicom with the World Economic Forum, which developed its own ESG reporting framework that is now followed by Omnicom.

Prior to joining Omnicom, she held various positions related to tackling environmental issues, including initiating and leading environmental policy and stakeholder dialogue for Outboard Marine Corporation in Europe and creating the first Environment department at McDonald’s Europe.

Van Bergen said:

Environmental sustainability has been a priority for businesses for decades, but there is a renewed energy that is urging more action and proactivity from companies worldwide. Omnicom is ready to do its part to create a better future, and I am pleased to assist in identifying, implementing, and expanding our sustainability initiatives. As an industry with worldwide influence through advertising and communications, it is imperative that we set an example and be a part of the solution.”

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