The bullish holding company chief tells The Drum why he’s confident its model can withstand outside economic and political “pressures” and deliver better-than-expected growth this year. “Against all odds” is the well-rehearsed phrase Arthur Sadoun returns to time and again during our conversation about Publicis Groupe’s strong first-half financials and its correspondingly upgraded full-year forecast. […]
The advertising giant reported better-than-expected profits and revenues, reflecting a trend of increasing brand spend – despite high inflation – across the industry. Omnicom Group, the world’s second-largest advertising holding company (behind French titan Publicis), reported its second-quarter financial results Tuesday evening after trading closed. The results beat Wall Street estimates on both profit and […]
We’re very pleased to be sponsoring the “Excellence in Pro Bono Working” award at tomorrow’s Communiqué Awards with Passion Partnership. In May’s edition of PM Live, Tony Walford shares his thoughts on the ongoing consolidation in the healthcare marketing industry. Healthcare and medical communications have long been favoured sectors for investors. Unlike many of the […]
As part of The Drum’s Health & Pharma Focus, Green Square’s Tony Walford analyses mergers and acquisitions in the sector and looks at what is driving investor interest. Given medicines and therapy purchases are often necessity purchases, less prone to reductions in discretionary spend, and coupled with the significant size of pharma marketing budgets, it […]
Stagwell’s latest agency acquisition is Pros in Brazil, its first in the potentially lucrative Latin America market. With the deals coming thick and fast, Green Square founder, Tony Walford, puts Mark Penn’s latest deal into context. This morning’s news of Allison’s acquisition of São Paulo’s PROS Agency is the fourth acquisition by Stagwell this year […]
Stagwell has significant growth ambitions, as recent reports of founder Mark Penn approaching a potential merger with S4 Capital show. With a technological focus, it currently employs around 13,000 people across more than 34 countries within agencies such as Anomaly, 72&Sunny, Forsman & Bodenfors, Doner and Gale. Speaking to ADWEEK, Penn would not comment on […]
S4 Capital has reported a 25% drop in core earnings after what the group described as a “difficult” 2023. Will things get any easier in 2024? Green Square’s Tony Walford examines its prospects and explores whether a mooted mega-merger could offer salvation. Sir Martin Sorrell is an incredibly resilient character, indeed potentially the most resilient […]
WPP boss Mark Read says the holding company’s 2023 figures show it weathered a tough year. However, analysts suggest there are still plenty of questions to be answered about operating models and AI. Despite a “tough year” for much of its agency portfolio and exposure to lower tech client spending in the US, WPP chief […]
The Sorrell-helmed holding company’s latest trading update contains little cause for optimism. What does it tell us about the health of the sector at large? Client caution in the face of adverse economic weather will likely persist over the next 12 months, according to Sir Martin Sorrell, executive chairman of Media.Monks parent firm S4 Capital. […]
Some thoughts from a conversation with our partner Barry Dudley and host Peter Lang on getting your business into shape generally and with an eye on maybe doing a deal in the future. I’d skip the first 7.5 minutes where they chat about Barry’s career, but then they discuss: 7:30 Why having strong numbers gives […]