QMS chief John O'Neill wins global Out of Home leadership award

QMS Media chief executive John O'Neill has been named the winner of the 2026 World Out of Home Organisation (WOO) Leadership Award, presented at the WOO Congress in London.

The annual award recognises exceptional leadership and innovation within the global out of home industry.

O'Neill, who has nearly 30 years of experience across QMS, oOh!media, EyeCorp, and Media Puzzle, was recognised for his role in shaping the Australian out of home market through digital transformation and commercial growth.

Under his leadership, QMS grew from five employees and eight sites into a national business with more than 250 staff and 2,000 sites, before being acquired by Nine Entertainment in April 2026.

John O'Neill

Industry recognition

Outdoor Media Association (OMA) and MOVE chief executive Elizabeth McIntyre said the award reflected O'Neill's influence both locally and globally.

"John is a driving force in advocating the efficacy of Out of Home because he genuinely believes in what the channel can deliver for advertisers, agencies and communities," McIntyre said.

"What sets John apart is the way he leads: he is commercially sharp, future-focused and never loses sight of people. His impact is felt well beyond QMS, and this global recognition is a testament to the standard he sets for all of us."

O'Neill has served as a director on the OMA and MOVE boards since 2018, contributing to the launch of MOVE, Australia's out of home audience measurement system.

He has also championed the use of attention metrics and neuroscience research to demonstrate the channel's effectiveness for advertisers.

Main image: OMA CEO Elizabeth McIntyre, and John O'Neill

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