AD Agencies
Dentsu Creative launches ‘Future Mandala’ in India
Mumbai: Dentsu Creative, a global network within the Dentsu Group that consolidates various creative, digital, and branding agencies, has introduced ‘Future Mandala’ in India. This tool is designed to provide brands with insights and foresight to innovate and develop new business ecosystems. Originally developed by Dentsu Tokyo in 2011, the tool has already made an impact in global markets and is now set to guide Indian brands toward sustainable growth and market leadership.
Unlike traditional trend reports that offer limited insights, Future Mandala provides a deeper understanding of socio-economic shifts, third-party research, and demographic trends. It delivers brands a blueprint to stay ahead of the market by identifying opportunities for product innovation and developing communication platforms and business models. This dual capability enables businesses to anticipate changes and take decisive action.
Dentsu Creative South Asia CEO Amit Wadhwa emphasised that understanding the future is essential to shaping it. Future Mandala helps brands move beyond short-term trends and focus on long-term innovation. It reflects Dentsu’s commitment to “Innovating to Impact” by helping clients lead the market with strategic clarity.
Dentsu Creative India chief strategy officer Sumeer Mathur added that the tool assists marketers in understanding how current trends will influence the future. It helps shape business ecosystems, from product development to consumer communication, providing an actionable roadmap for the next five years. Drawing on data from government reports, industry insights, and trends, Future Mandala enables brands to drive innovation in a changing economy.
Offered as a premium service to Dentsu’s clients, Future Mandala has a proven track record of driving business transformation globally. Developed by experts including Takuya Kagata of Dentsu Consulting Inc., it equips Indian brands to be future-ready and achieve long-term growth.
AD Agencies
Omnicom to divest $2.5 billion businesses in 12 months: CEO John Wren
Group doubles synergy target to $1.5bn as jobs, brands and markets go
NEW YORK: Omnicom Group is preparing to divest or exit businesses generating about $2.5 billion in annual revenue, stepping up a sweeping portfolio overhaul after its $13.25 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group.
Speaking on the group’s fourth-quarter earnings call, chairman and chief executive officer John Wren said Omnicom had already sold or exited units worth more than $800 million in annual revenue and expects to complete the remaining disposals within 12 months.
The company is also scaling back in smaller markets, shifting from majority to minority ownership in businesses accounting for roughly $700 million in revenue. These markets, Wren said, are no longer central to Omnicom’s long-term strategy.
Following the IPG merger, Omnicom has doubled its targeted annual run-rate synergies to $1.5 billion over the next 30 months, from an earlier estimate of $750 million. Management expects to capture $900 million of those savings in 2026 alone, with around $1 billion coming from labour cost reductions as overlapping corporate, network and operational roles are eliminated.
Further efficiencies will flow from simplified regional and brand structures, consolidated resources, and faster outsourcing and offshoring under a unified operating model. In December 2025, the group said it would cut more than 4,000 jobs and fold several agency brands into larger networks.
Wren also underlined stepped-up investment in automation and artificial intelligence to lift margins and sharpen client servicing amid intensifying competition.
The board has authorised a $5 billion share buyback, including a $2.5 billion accelerated repurchase programme, while committing continued investment in media, commerce, consulting and data capabilities.
Omnicom reported a 27.9 per cent rise in fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue to $5.53 billion, reflecting organic growth and one month’s contribution from IPG, compared with $4.32 billion a year earlier. Wren said the IPG combination strengthened the client roster, citing new or expanded mandates from American Express, Bayer, BBVA, BNY, Mercedes-Benz and NatWest Group.
