Omnicom Media Australia has appointed Stephanie ‘Stevie’ Douglas-Neal as CEO of UM, succeeding Anathea Ruys with immediate effect.
Douglas-Neal, who returned to Omnicom after three years as the Sydney managing director of EssenceMediacom, previously spent seven years at OMG, including as managing director of PHD.
It had been rumoured she might fill the leadership vacancy at Hearts & Science after Jane Stanley left the business last year.
Douglas-Neal succeeds Ruys after a challenging run for UM since they retained the Federal Government account. In the first three quarters of 2025, UM lost Lion, HBF, Zurich and Optus. They have won Village Roadshow, Bayer and King Living.
Omnicom Media Australia CEO Kristiaan Kroon said: “Anathea has led UM for the past four years with care, commitment, and integrity, and has made a meaningful contribution to the agency, its clients and its people. As the business evolves, we are making changes to our leadership structure to ensure UM is well-positioned for the future. I want to thank Anathea for her leadership and the impact she has had and wish her every success in what comes next.”
“We are pleased to welcome Stephanie Douglas-Neal as CEO of UM and, more broadly, back to Omnicom Media. Stevie has a strong track record of building agency businesses that deliver exceptional outcomes for clients. She brings deep experience, clarity of leadership and a genuine commitment to people, and I’m confident she is the right leader for UM as it enters its next chapter.”
Stephanie Douglas-Neal said: “Stepping into UM at this moment feels like a once-in-a-career opportunity. The market is transforming quickly, and with Omnicom Media entering a new phase of scale and capability, this creates real upside for a business like UM. UM has a distinct brand soul, one that champions Full Colour Media, embracing the full spectrum of what a brand can be in market and my focus is on protecting that while accelerating its impact within a powerful, connected ecosystem.”
“I’m incredibly excited to get started, to listen, learn, and begin building the next chapter of UM with our teams and our clients. I’m grateful for the people I’ve worked with and the experiences I’ve gained over the past few years, which bring a broader perspective as I step into this role.”
With reporting from Arvind Hickman.
