Intepublic today reported flat Q4 revenues of $2.1B as the ad/PR combine struggled to rebound from account losses suffered in 2011. Operating income rose 6.4 percent to $410M.

CEO Michael Roth said the firm entered 2013 in a “much stronger position with respect to client retention and new business activity.”

IPG’s CMG group of Weber Shandwick, GolinHarris, DeVries, Jack Morton, Octagon and Futurebrand enjoyed a 9.4 percent rise in 2012 revenues to $1.2B. Income was up 13.1 percent to $114.5M.

The CMG group increase compares to a 2.8 percent slip in revenues to $5.7B at the McCann Worldgroup, Lowe & Partners and Draftfcb ad group. It posted a 3.7 percent decline in revenues to $701M.

Andy Polansky, CEO of Weber Shandwick, said IPG’s PR flagship benefitted from “deeper relationships with key clients” and an upswing in corporate, consumer and healthcare spending. He told O’Dwyer’s a key goal is to “challenge the status quo.”

Polansky, who took the CEO reins from Harris Diamond in November, is wrapping up a global tour of Weber Shandwick’s global office network with a trip to Asia, which is led by its 470-staffer plus China operation.

The Interpublic board approved a 25 percent dividend hike to 0.75 per share and announced a $300M stock buyback program. Roth said those actions reflect the “operating trajectory of the business.”

IPG ended the past year with total debt of $2.5B and cash/marketable securities of $2.6B.