Mumbai: Publicis Groupe Asia-Pacific has named Naomi Michael as its Chief Communications Officer (CCO) for the region, a newly created leadership role aimed at strengthening the Groupe’s communications strategy across one of its most diverse and high-growth markets.
Based in Singapore, Michael will lead the regional communications agenda across markets and capabilities, working closely with the APAC leadership team to enhance brand positioning and stakeholder engagement across the network. She will report to Jane Lin-Baden, Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific at Publicis Groupe.
Michael joins the Groupe from Omnicom Media Group, where she served on the APAC leadership team as Head of Brand Marketing. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at IPG Mediabrands, part of Interpublic Group.
With more than two decades of international experience across marketing and communications, Michael has worked across corporate and media organisations in Asia-Pacific, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Her early career includes roles at Zenith in London, The Walt Disney Company, and Financial Times, before moving into senior agency leadership roles across Sydney, Hong Kong, and Singapore within the Interpublic and Omnicom networks.
Announcing the appointment, Lin-Baden said Michael brings a strong blend of leadership and regional understanding that will be instrumental as the Groupe continues to expand its presence across APAC.
“Naomi is a leader with warmth and conviction who understands that communications play a fundamental role in building belief, alignment and momentum across a region as diverse as ours,” Lin-Baden said.
“With her regional experience and collaborative approach, she will be a crucial partner as we continue to grow clients’ brands and business, launch proprietary solutions created by and for our APAC community, and bring positive impact to the communities where we operate. I’m delighted to welcome her to our APAC leadership team.”
Commenting on her new role, Michael said she was drawn to the Groupe’s forward-looking business model and its early investments in technology-driven transformation.
“I’ve been impressed by the strength and maturity of the Publicis Groupe business model. Having invested ahead of the curve into AI, data, and real transformation at scale, their clarity of vision has translated into a powerful engine that consistently achieves undeniable results,” she said.
She added that the newly created role reflects both the scale of growth in the APAC region and the Groupe’s ambitions for the future.
“The creation of this role reflects both the scale of growth within the APAC region, and the ambition for what comes next. I’m thrilled to join the leadership team in APAC at such a defining moment, as we celebrate 100 years of Publicis Groupe and help shape the next century of transformation.”
Beyond her corporate career, Michael is actively involved in initiatives focused on inclusion and education. She is a founding executive council member of Pass Her The Mic, an Asia-led initiative aimed at amplifying women’s voices globally. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity International and serves on the Myanmar Chapter Board of Pencils for Kids, supporting access to education for children in developing communities.
