The Omnicom-IPG merger is the largest restructuring in communications history, with more than 10,000 positions eliminated* and legendary agency brands like DDB, FCB, and MullenLowe being retired. For PR and communications leaders, whether you’re navigating this change from the inside, watching from a competitor, or suddenly finding yourself in career transition, this moment demands a particular kind of leadership courage.

Let me be direct: I’ve coached agency leaders through mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations for nearly two decades. And what I know is this: the leaders who thrive through these moments aren’t the ones who pretend everything is fine. They’re the ones who name the uncertainty honestly while still pointing toward possibility.

If You’re Leading a Team Through This

Your people are watching you right now. Not just listening to your words, but sensing your energy. (If you’ve worked with me, or are familiar with my work,  you know I’m an Energy Leadership Index coach, and this is exactly when that framework matters most.)

Here’s what I’d encourage:

Acknowledge the reality before pivoting to the plan. Your team doesn’t need you to sugarcoat. They need you to say, “This is hard. There’s a lot we don’t know. And here’s how we’re going to move forward together.” That’s leadership with a capital L.

Be present more than you’re productive. Right now, the most valuable thing you can do might not be checking tasks off a list. It might be having a real conversation with someone on your team who’s scared about their job. Your availability is a leadership act.

Protect your own energy so you can lead others. You can’t pour from an empty cup. (I know, it sounds like a cliché. It’s also true.) If you’re absorbing everyone else’s anxiety without processing your own, you’ll burn out, and your team will lose the steady presence they need.

If You’ve Been Impacted Directly

First: this isn’t a reflection of your value. Mergers like this are about spreadsheets and “synergies,” not about whether you’re a talented professional. (Boy, I wish more leaders would say that clearly to the people they’re letting go.)

I’ve seen many, many PR professionals use moments like this as inflection points for their careers. Some land at agencies that are better fits. Some go in-house. Some finally launch that consultancy they’d been dreaming about. The common thread? They took time to get clear on what they actually wanted, not just what was available.

If you’re in this position, I’d encourage you to pause before you panic-apply to every open role. Ask yourself: What kind of leader do I want to become? What kind of work environment brings out my best? These questions matter to help you choose your next position and drive your success and satisfaction.

What This Moment Teaches Us

The advertising and communications industry is being reshaped by forces larger than any single merger: It’s a combination of the effect of AI, platform consolidation, changing client expectations and the overall economy. The Omnicom-IPG combination is one chapter in a much longer story.

For leaders at every level, the lesson is the same: your technical skills got you here, but your leadership skills will determine where you go next. The agencies that thrive, and the professionals who thrive within them, will be the ones who invest in their capacity to lead through uncertainty.

That’s not just my opinion. Research shows executive coaching produces an average 788% ROI (Metrix Global Research), and 96% of executives who’ve been coached would do it again (International Coaching Federation). In moments of industry disruption, that investment becomes even more valuable.

If you’re navigating this moment and want to talk through what leadership looks like for you right now, I’m happy to offer a complimentary session. Sometimes the most important thing is having someone in your corner who understands both this industry and the human side of leading through it.

https://calendly.com/jacobscomm/complimentary-session?month=2026-01

What’s on your mind as you watch this unfold? I’d love to hear from you.

*Estimate includes layoffs done in advance of, and the result of the merger. Sources: AdAge.com and Reuters