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.
4media group completes its acquisition of Family Features Editorial Syndicate... Illumination PR, which represents lifestyle brands, influencers and celebrities, launches DR Media Group... EAG Advertising and Marketing acquires pay-for-performance firm INK inc. Public Relations. 
LLYC launches Signs of Pride, a campaign that revives the original protest banners of the first Pride marches... The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry forms the Public Relations and Digital Marketing Working Group... Circle of One Marketing, a Miami-based, minority-owned marketing agency, is named official agency of record for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. 
Vogel Group, a DC-headquartered government affairs and consulting firm, forms a strategic partnership with Montreal-based public affairs firm Boléro Stratégies... Matter Communications launches project-based offerings for B2C companies looking to increase brand awareness and visibility... Tucker/Hall, a Tampa-based PR and public affairs firm, opens a new office in Orlando. 
Why investing in public relations is ultimately about building bridges in a connected world.
Edelman is laying off 330 people (5.3 percent of its workforce) to cope with an anticipated eight percent shortfall in 2024 US revenues, and client demand for one-stop shopping for speciality services.
