6314: Omnicom Hires Diversity Chief.

From AdAge.com…

Omnicom Taps Warren for New Diversity Role
Former Arnold Exec Will Be Chief Diversity Officer for Holding Company

By Rupal Parekh

NEW YORK — Omnicom Group has tapped Tiffany R. Warren of Arnold Worldwide to serve in the newly created role of chief diversity officer at the holding company.

Ms. Warren has been at Havas-owned Arnold since 2005, most recently serving as VP-director of multicultural programs and community outreach. In that capacity, she oversaw programs within the agency to recruit and retain multicultural talent.

Outside of Arnold, she spearheaded AdColor, a collaboration of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, Advertising Club of New York, AAF, Association of National Advertisers, Advertising Research Foundation and Arnold to promote increased diversity in the advertising and marketing industries.

Ms. Warren, who blogs for Advertising Age’s Big Tent blog, is well-known in adland for her diversity efforts, having spent time as manager of diversity programs at the 4A’s. In 2007, she was named one of Advertising Age’s Women to Watch.

An Omnicom spokeswoman confirmed the hire, while an Arnold spokeswoman said the agency intends to find a replacement for Ms. Warren and has already initiated a search to fill the position.

The creation of such a position in the C-suite is a clear sign that Omnicom, the world’s largest marketing services company, has made it a priority to improve its track record for the hiring and retention of minority ad executives. It’s particularly notable as Omnicom recently undertook staff reductions in the thousands.

The news of Ms. Warren’s hire also comes as Cyrus Mehri, one of the nation’s top civil rights attorneys, has turned his attention toward the ad industry’s woeful diversity record.

Mr. Mehri’s law firm later this week will reportedly announce an initiative called the Madison Avenue Project, dedicated to address racial inequality in the ad business.