Publicis reports revenue hike

Publicis Groupe, which recently acquired design consultancy SAS, has announced an 11 per cent rise in revenues for the third quarter of this year.

Revenue rose to €1.122m (£785 000), compared with €1.013m (£708 400) for the same period in 2006. Third quarter organic growth was 4.6 per cent, in line with the group’s aim of 4 per cent. Since July, organic growth in Europe was particularly sustained.

The group reported double-digit growth for its media agencies and global interactive network Digitas, and organic growth of 2.7 per cent in Europe.

The decision to acquire SAS in September is part of an ongoing strategy to reinforce its specialised agencies and marketing services offering in the UK.

The move saw SAS become the hub of the Publicis Consultants Network, highlighting design’s importance for Publicis and its desire to develop specialised agency offerings in external markets.

Jeremy Sice, who manages Publicis Consultants in the UK, said the move was about changing the way SAS worked.

Publics Groupe chairman and chief executive Maurice Levy’s reinforced this in his comments in the third-quarter report, saying, ‘We have built up leading positions in the digital sector and have strengthened our position in high-growth emerging economies, in line with our strategy. In key markets, Publicis Groupe has both the talent and the assets to provide even better service to our clients and improve our market share. All these developments are leading to the steady transformation of the group and of our business model, which will positively affect our future growth.’