Oahu Publications Inc., publisher of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, is starting a stand-alone advertising agency called Oahu Media Group. James Avis, after 16 years at Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, most recently as director of corporate development, will head OMG as managing director.

OMG will be a separate division that will harness OPI’s advertising creativity, experience and production capabilities to offer industry-leading marketing and advertising services across all media platforms.

"I am excited about this incredible opportunity to lead the Oahu Media Group and look forward to offering our clients a fresh take on traditional advertising in Hawaii," Avis said. "The aim of the Oahu Media Group is to shake up the traditional advertising agency paradigm and provide clients with advertising solutions that truly meet their unique needs and business goals."

OMG will provide clients across the state with full-service, results-focused advertising services and media buying strategies for local and national newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, direct mail and digital media.

"We are looking at the current needs of both Oahu Publications and the overall Hawaii advertising marketplace and see an opportunity to serve both," said Dennis Francis, OPI president and Star-Advertiser publisher. "It is an opportunity for us to do more award-winning advertising work as we have done in-house for our own publications, making our advertising expertise available to a wider market. We are delighted to have a high-octane leader like James, who comes with a record of extraordinary success, leading this effort."

Francis noted that the new advertising agency’s acronym OMG — which in the digital texting world stands for "oh, my God!" — is no accident.

"We think island businesses are going to be excited about our advertising capabilities," he said. "We will be bringing a fresh perspective to advertising across the board with the creative and production resources needed to tackle any advertising concept or need."

Francis said expanding into commercial advertising is a natural way for Oahu Publications to continue growing. OPI, which formerly published the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, merged with the larger Honolulu Advertiser in June 2010. Under Francis, OPI has shown solid growth and expanded to include The Garden Island newspaper on Kauai; a magazine division that includes a growing portfolio of luxury, in-room hotel magazines, community and military publications; MidWeek for Oahu and Kauai; and the Hawaii edition of USA Today.

Avis, who is passionate about helping align the local business community with public education, is involved with the Hawaii Children’s Foundation, whose mission is to boost student success in the classroom and in real life. Its programs are designed to enhance Hawaii Content and Performance Standards and National Literacy Standards. The foundation also focuses on providing teachers with 21st-century competencies through Hawaii’s General Learner Outcomes.