AD Agencies
FCB Group India locks in Hariharan Nurani as CFO amid growth surge
MUMBAI: When an advertising powerhouse is on a roll, it needs a finance maestro to keep the momentum steady. Ropes in Hariharan Nurani, the newly appointed chief financial officer of FCB Group India, tasked with ensuring the agency’s continued financial success as it scales to new heights.
Nurani steps into his role at a time when FCB Group India is riding a wave of growth, with major business wins and a sharpened creative focus defining its trajectory. His appointment signals the company’s commitment to financial agility, operational excellence, and strategic expansion.
With a career that reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the Indian media industry, Nurani has held key financial roles at Ogilvy, Mudra, and GroupM. He has spent years fine-tuning his expertise in financial planning, risk management, and profitability strategies—making him the perfect navigator for FCB’s ambitious journey.
“FCB in India is on an incredible growth trajectory—we witnessed a remarkable surge in revenue and new business wins last year, setting the tone for the new-age agency we are building. Hari’s financial leadership is pivotal as we scale with agility and sharpen our creative and business impact. His expertise will be instrumental in driving our next phase of expansion, ensuring that we continue to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible in this dynamic industry,” said FCB Group India & south Asia CEO Dheeraj Sinha.
Nurani, equally enthusiastic about the new chapter, shared his excitement, stating, “I’m truly excited to join FCB Group India at such a dynamic time in its journey. As the agency evolves into a future-focused powerhouse driven by creativity and innovation, this opportunity was one I couldn’t resist. I look forward to contributing to its ambitious growth plans and strengthening the financial framework to fuel its next chapter.”
With this strategic hire, FCB Group India is ensuring that its financial playbook is as sharp as its creative one. As the agency continues its ascent in India’s advertising landscape, Nurani’s expertise will be crucial in keeping its balance sheet as compelling as its campaigns.
AD Agencies
Publicis posts €4.19bn Q1 revenue, 6.4 per cent growth; backs FY outlook
Ad giant signals Q2 acceleration as AI and new deals power momentum
PARIS: Publicis Groupe continues to outperform the industry, delivering a strong start to 2026 under Chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun. Despite a volatile global macro environment, the company has now outpaced the industry for nearly 20 consecutive quarters.
For Q1 2026, total revenue reached €4,191 million, up from €4,161 million last year, with organic growth of 6.4 per cent. Net revenue, which excludes pass-through costs, stood at €3,460 million, reflecting organic growth of 4.5 per cent.
Exchange rates had a negative impact of €268 million, mainly due to a weaker US dollar and pound sterling. Acquisitions, including Adge.AI and 160over90, contributed an additional €46 million.
Performance across regions was largely positive, with some variation:
- North America, accounting for 59 per cent of net revenue, grew 4.7 per cent
- Europe recorded growth of 3.9 per cent, led by the UK at 6.2 per cent, while France grew 1.6 per cent
- Asia Pacific posted 5.9 per cent growth, driven by China at 11.7 per cent
- Latin America grew 13.3 per cent
- Middle East and Africa declined 5.1 per cent due to geopolitical challenges
AI-powered marketing services, which now make up 86 per cent of the business, grew 5.6 per cent. However, the technology segment, representing 14 per cent of revenue, declined slightly as clients reduced spending on large-scale transformation projects.
Sharing his outlook, Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “Publicis had a very strong start to the year, outperforming the industry for almost 20 quarters in a row despite the volatile macro environment. Organic revenue growth reached 6.4%, leading to 4.5% in net and further increasing the gap with our peers.” He added that the company remains confident of delivering industry-leading performance. “We are confirming our industry-leading organic growth guidance of 4 to 5%, with the 4% rock solid, and a sequential organic growth acceleration in Q2 despite a higher comparable.”
Publicis continued its expansion with the acquisition of Adge.AI in March, followed by 160over90 in April to strengthen its sports and culture marketing capabilities.
Net financial debt stood at €1,156 million at the end of March, reflecting a seasonal shift from the net cash position at the end of 2025. Average net debt over the past twelve months was €1,035 million.
The company has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting net revenue organic growth of 4 to 5 per cent in 2026. It also anticipates an operating margin slightly above 18.2 per cent and free cash flow of approximately €2.1 billion.
With expectations of stronger performance in the second quarter, Publicis remains well positioned to sustain its growth momentum.
