Ad Net Zero Appoints John Osborn as USA Director

John Osborn, former OMD US and BBDO New York CEO, has been appointed to lead Ad Net Zero USA and help grow its supporter base as the world’s advertising industry responds to the climate crisis. This follows the announcement this summer at LIONS to roll-out Ad Net Zero internationally, a decision backed by the world’s major advertising agency holding companies, dentsu international, Havas, Interpublic Group, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe and WPP, along with Unilever – one of the world’s largest advertisers, global tech companies, Google and Meta, plus European media company Sky. Osborn’s appointment and the development of the Ad Net Zero USA chapter is also supported by USA trade bodies, ANA, 4A’s and the IAB, the WFA representing global advertisers, European and global agency associations, EACA and Voxcomm, and the IAA. 

John’s remit will be to build on the commitments made by the Global Group to adopt the Ad Net Zero 5-point action plan into its US businesses, driving systemic change in the way the industry works and through the work it makes. John’s appointment comes with an open invitation to US companies to join a chapter focused on specifically addressing the challenges and opportunities in the US ad market, which represents around 40% of the world’s advertising spend. 

Ad Net Zero USA will be participating in Advertising Week New York with sessions, networking and special VIP reception at the British Consulate, hosted by Stillwell Partners and the British Government. John will also be talking about sustainability and the US ad market’s response at the ANA’s Masters of Marketing Conference the following week and will join the stellar line-up of speakers at the Ad Net Zero Global Summit on November 9th & 10th.

Sebastian Munden, chair of Ad Net Zero and former executive vice president, Unilever UK and Ireland said, “John is a brilliant addition to the Ad Net Zero team at just the right moment as we push forward to make long-lasting changes to the advertising industry around the world. The US ad market is pivotal to this, both for its scale and impact, and as a bellwether for other advertising markets. His energy, passion and commitment to tackling this challenge which affects us all is infectious, and I urge any organisation working in the US advertising market to join him because collective action is vital to bring about swift action.”

John Osborn, Ad Net Zero USA director, said, “I have witnessed first-hand through my work with the American Red Cross the very frightening impact of climate change. It’s happening now, it’s happening here in the USA and it’s happening all around the world. Most say they care about the environment. But, to care is to act. Right now, we all have a tremendous responsibility to mitigate our impact and help build a more sustainable way of life. It’s time for action and to join Ad Net Zero.”

The search for the Ad Net Zero USA Director role was handled by global executive search firm and Ad Net Zero supporter, Grace Blue.