Oliver Schrott Kommunikation (OSK), one of Germany’s largest PR and communications agencies, today announced its founder Oliver Schrott is retiring from the CEO role after 31 years leading the company. Filling the position will be Christoph Horn, previous Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at global technology company, ZF Group. The change will be effective July 1st, with Schrott remaining at OSK in the newly-created position of non-executive Chairman.
OSK is regarded as the leading German agency for mobility and automotive PR, which has been the focus of its consulting and development activities since it was founded in 1993, along with the fields of technology and consumer products. Headquartered in Cologne, the company has offices in Stuttgart, Berlin, New York, and Beijing and currently employs around 250 communications specialists. It has consistently been among the top 10 German agencies in the PR industry for over 20 years.
In 2021, OSK joined Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG), the largest global network of communications and consulting agencies in the world and part of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC). The German agency is a founding and current member of team x, the bespoke Omnicom agency servicing Mercedes-Benz. In 2023, OSK generated nearly 30 million euros in fee income, making it the best result in the agency’s history.
“For more than two decades, OSK has been a congenial, efficient and inspiring partner in the areas of corporate communications and marketing to its clients,” said Horn. “It has developed dynamically, always remaining one step ahead of the competition through its broad yet specialized range of services and its courage to try something new. Taking on the leadership role at OSK is both my honor and commitment to its renowned clients, the OSK team, Omnicom and especially to its founder, Oliver Schrott.”
Christoph Horn has a 30-year career in communications and is considered a proven expert in the international automotive and mobility industry. He has worked for prominent companies including Ford, General Motors, and Opel and has held various positions at Daimler AG for 14 years, including seven years as Head of Global Communications at Mercedes-Benz.
Prior to OSK, Horn was Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at ZF Group, the world’s largest commercial vehicle and third-largest automotive supplier. Since 2015, he was responsible for marketing and PR at the company and helped shape its growth and transformation. This included providing communications support for its major acquisitions and integrations of TRW and Wabco. During this time, he was repeatedly voted as one of the best press spokespersons in Germany by business journalists.
Horn will lead OSK together with COO Michael Kemme and CFO Marc Wolter, both of whom have been part of the agency’s management team for many years.
“Christoph Horn is the ideal successor to lead OSK successfully into the future, together with my long-standing Co-Managing Directors Michael Kemme and Marc Wolter,” said Schrott. “Chris not only stands for continuity, but also for further development and new beginnings in a time of rapid change. We have known each other for over 25 years and have worked closely in various capacities. We share the same values, high standards and ambition to move forward and create something new. I am very much looking forward to continuing to accompany and support Chris, the OSK management team, and the entire agency in my new position as Chairman.”
Chris Foster, Global CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG): “Chris is the right leader to take the CEO reins from Oliver and steer OSK into its next successful chapter.”
About OSK
Oliver Schrott Kommunikation (OSK) was founded in 1993 by the journalist Oliver Schrott, then 31. From his journalistic work for automotive, business, marketing and communications media, he developed a consulting approach that went far beyond traditional PR, which was still very text-heavy at the time. From the very beginning, the agency relied on the power and impact of visually stunning communications and emotional live experiences to create relevance in the public perception of companies, brands and topics.
In 2001, OSK became the lead agency for the international PR of Mercedes-Benz. The luxury brand became a key client for the agency’s growth and further development as well as its international expansion with offices in the USA (2008) and China (2010).
Since 2021, OSK has been part of the New York-based Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG) and is part of team x, the exclusive Omnicom agency for Mercedes-Benz.
Today, OSK has specialized consulting units for mobility (OSK Move), technology (OSK Tech) and consumer brands (OSK Life) as well as an exclusive agency unit for Mercedes-Benz. In the “OSK Studios”, creative teams from a wide range of disciplines work on the development and production of new communication measures and formats on an interdisciplinary basis. The offer includes specialized studios for design and architecture as well as for film, video and audio, data-driven PR and AI as well as tailor-made communication events in reality and virtuality.
Later this year, a further specialized consulting unit for ESG topics will be launched under the name “OSK Green” with a holistic approach to comprehensive, sustainable communication success.
About Omnicom PR Group (OPRG)
Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) is the largest global network of communications and consulting agencies in the world. It is home to three of the top global PR agencies FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and more than a dozen specialist agencies in corporate and public affairs, political consulting and advertising, language strategy, global health strategy and organizational transformation. OPRG is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).