Publicis Groupe CEO Maurice Levy today reported a 1.2 percent organic growth rate during the first-half, driven largely by a robust performance from digital activities that generate 51 percent of overall business.

The French ad/PR operation generated a 35.2 percent surge in revenues due to the integration of Sapient, which CEO Maurice Levy said is "slightly ahead of plan."

He boasts Sapient is "fulfilling promises that exceed our strategic valuation of the company."

Claims Levy: "None of our competitors is capable, on a standalone business, of providing a complete range of services from consulting and technology right up to the execution of communications programs."

On the PR front, MSLGroup picked up new business from American Public Health Assn., 24 Hour Fitness, and Rover.com in the US, AIG, Conforama, Elior, Michelin, Credit Agricole, Sanofi Pasteur, Orange (France); ING, Thyssen Krupp, Amazon, Nivea in Poland; Alibaba.com (China) and Rotterdam World Gateway Terminal Ranstad Holding and Cathay Pacific in Holland.

Levy predicts accelerated organic growth and a double-digit revenue growth for the second half.