WPP reported third quarter revenue at its PR and public affairs operations climbed 6.5% to top $351M while revenues overall at the marketing conglomerate rose 5.9% to $4.5B on the strength of North American operations.

WPP's advertising and media business led the way with an 8% gain to just under $2B. Branding, healthcare and specialty communications ticked up 7.5% to $1.2B, while its data investment management business slipped 0.8% to $896M.

Net new business for the preriod topped $3B.

Within the PR and PA group, including Ogilvy, Glover Park Group and Burson-Marsteller, WPP said all regions grew revenue and net sales. It singled out Cohn & Wolfe, Finsbury in the UK and Ogilvy Government Relations in the US for strong performances.

On a like-for-like basis, PR & PA through the first three quarters is up 2.2% to just over $1B, a 5.7% gain on an overall basis.

Currency fluctuations showed WPP revenue actually declined 1.6% for the period in dollars, but rose 17% in euros and 15.4% in yen.