• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, June 28, 2021

In a potentially culturally significant development, Omnicom's Sparks & Honey unit has created a hybrid Chief Client Officer & Head of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) role, and tapped Oberland Partner and Head of Strategy Davianne Harris to fill it.

"In this new dual role, Harris will be charged with overseeing the client strategy team, overseeing business transformation projects, and continuing to grow the consultancy’s DE&I practice, which is now in more demand than ever," the agency said in a statement announcing it.

Harris, who will report to Sparks & Honey Founder and CEO Terry Young, is viewed as a rising star in the ad industry, ascending to her partner/strategy role after just 10 months at the shop.

She launched that agency's DEI initiative -- dubbed Ober-Change -- to help educate and drive action towards equity in-house.