Doremus, the global business communications agency, and the Financial Times, announce the results of their sixth annual “Decision Dynamics” global online survey, which takes the pulse of over 300 senior executives representing a mix of industries and company sizes in North America, Europe and Asia.

Economic outlook – no wishful thinking

Global executives are bearish about the immediate economic outlook. The percentage of respondents who said they expected conditions to improve within their industries is the lowest since the annual survey began in 2003. Seven in ten respondents expect both global and local economic conditions will get worse before they get better.

Paradoxically, they expressed optimism about their own company’s fortunes, despite the current recession. While they don’t expect market conditions to improve, they do expect their own company’s results to get better. This response remained true to a pattern that began in 2004.

Around the world, executives reported general economic conditions were the primary challenge they faced this year. Last year’s top worry, pricing pressures, took a distant second.

Carl Anderson, CEO of Doremus, noted: “We’re seeing a healthy realism combined with optimism. Senior executives are generally confident about their abilities to make things happen, and this survey supports that. Around the world, they believe, or want to believe, that they have what it takes to overcome challenging market conditions.”

And how do they intend to overcome market conditions?

When asked about their corporate goals for the next six months, “cost containment/improving efficiency” and “improving market share/competitive position” formed the top tier, as in years past.

The second tier of goals included: “developing and marketing new products and services,” “finding and keeping talent” and “expanding into new markets.”

Global differences in goals

“Finding and keeping talent” was cited by significantly fewer Europeans as one of their most important priorities. Worldwide, the quest for good people remains a key goal for over a third of the respondents.

“Developing/marketing new products and services” was not as important to senior executives in Asia, suggesting they may be waiting for customers to purchase current inventory before introducing anything new to the marketplace.

For further information, please contact:

Darcy Keller, Financial Times, +1 212-641-6614 or darcy.keller@ft.com

Marianne Flatley, Doremuss, + 1 212-366-3682 or mflatley@doremus.com

About the Financial Times:

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing extensive news, comment and analysis, the newspaper is printed at 24 print sites across the globe, has a daily circulation of 448,523 (ABC figures, November 2008) and a readership of 1.3 million people worldwide. FT.com is the definitive home for business intelligence on the web, providing an essential source of news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community. FT.com attracts 7.1 million unique users, generating 72 million page views (ABCe figures, March 2008).

About Doremus:

Doremus (http://www.doremus.com) is a specialist in a world of generalists. With offices in New York, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong and Singapore, it specializes in business communications, helping companies grow. It does this by leveraging a unique understanding of its clients’ target audiences…taking the complex and making it compelling through intellect, insight, ideas and impact.

Doremus is a part of the Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.