AD Agencies
Goafest 2024 unveils stellar line-up of speakers and sessions
Mumbai: Gearing up to present three days of learnings, discussions, and deliberations while celebrating creative excellence, Goafest 2024 presents a stellar line-up of speakers for its 17 edition. With sessions that discuss various facets of the festival’s theme ‘The Age of Adaptability’, Goafest 2024 promises to unpack and deliver practical learnings through topics that are of significant relevance through keynotes, discussions, masterclasses and more.
The festival will host over 50 speakers and entertainers, across 20 sessions in addition to 15 masterclasses.
Tata Play’s managing director and CEO, Harit Nagpal and Sanjiv Mehta, executive chairman, L Catterton India are among the select few who will address attendees through keynotes.
Additionally, Tarun Puri, senior operating partner, Lighthouse Funds, Asha Kharga, chief customer & brand officer, Mahindra Group, Raymond Lifestyle’s Sunil Kataria, Maruti Suzuki’s Shashank Srivastava, Nestle’s Chandan Mukherjee, Tata Motors’ Shubhranshu Singh, The Good Glamm Group’s Sukhleen Aneja, Honasa’s Zairus Master, Darshana Shah from Aditya Birla Capital, among others will engage in conversations and discussions. Other prominent speakers include Dr Marcus Ranney, Manoj Bajpayee, Sourav Ganguly, Zeenat Aman, Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankar, Neha Dhupia, Tahira Kashyap and Neelesh Misra.
In addition to Goafest sessions, Goafest 2024 will host the second edition of its talent showcase, ‘Advertising Rocks’. Moreover, making way for wholesome entertainment will be performances by Sukhwinder Singh and Harshdeep Kaur as well as an After Hours Party each day.
On unveiling the stellar line-up of speakers and sessions, Goafest 2024 FCB Global partner and chairman of the content committee Rohit Ohri said, “Goafest 2024 is set to ignite minds, spark creativity, and explore new frontiers in the ever-evolving landscape of advertising and marketing. We are excited to offer a diverse array of speakers and sessions that celebrate creative excellence and emphasize the crucial role of adaptability in thriving within our industry. With warm hearts and joyful smiles, we eagerly anticipate welcoming all delegates and together redefining the future of our business.”
Anupriya Acharya, CEO South Asia, Publicis Groupe, and Immediate Past President of The Advertising Agencies Association of India further added, “This year at Goafest, we are embarking on a transformative journey with the theme ‘The Age of Adaptability’. Our carefully curated speaker line-up reflects this ethos, showcasing how our industry must pivot and innovate in response to shifting landscapes. From insightful sessions to vibrant celebrations, Goafest 2024 will promise an enriching experience for all. With this, we are eagerly looking forward to welcoming our delegates, confident that together, we will navigate the ever-evolving currents of our industry with agility and ingenuity.”
Visit https://www.goafest.com/goafest2024/event-schedule.php for the event schedule along with speakers, and sessions.
For details and registrations for masterclasses visit, https://www.goafest.com/goafest2024/event-schedule.php#masterclass.
Don’t miss out on attending South Asia’s foremost advertising and marketing festival. Register today by visiting https://www.tecogis.com/goafest/client/Login.aspx
For details on partnership opportunities, masterclasses, talent initiative ‘Advertising Rocks’ and more, visit goafest.com
For more updates, follow Goafest 2024 on Instagram @goafestlive. Follow @theadclubindia on Instagram for updates on the Abby Awards 2024 Powered by One Show.
AD Agencies
Omnicom posts $6.2 bn Q1 revenue, EBITDA margin rises to 14.8 per cent
AI push and cost synergies lift margins in first full quarter post-merger
NEW YORK: Omnicom has reported a robust first quarter following its acquisition of Interpublic Group, signalling early gains from integration, cost efficiencies and a sharper focus on AI-led services.
The results mark the first full quarter with Interpublic’s operations included, offering a clearer view of how the combined entity is shaping up. Revenue from core operations stood at $5.6 billion, up $345 million year on year on a combined basis, while organic growth came in at 3.9 per cent. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose sharply by 240 basis points to 14.8 per cent, reflecting early synergy benefits.
“We’ve seen momentum and cohesive growth across the organisation,” said Omnicom chief executive officer John Wren. “Our results demonstrate the benefits of realigning our portfolio and moving decisively on integration.”
A key part of that realignment involves shedding underperforming assets. Omnicom has identified businesses worth roughly $3.2 billion in annual revenue for disposal, with about $1 billion already exited in the first quarter. The company expects to complete most of the remaining divestments over the coming quarters, sharpening its focus on higher-growth, higher-margin operations.
On the bottom line, adjusted earnings per share rose 11.8 per cent to $1.90, underlining the financial impact of cost discipline and integration. The company is targeting $900 million in cost synergies by 2026, rising to $1.5 billion by mid-2028.
“We are realising significant cost reduction synergies while continuing to invest for growth,” said Omnicom chief financial officer Philip Angelastro.
Beyond the numbers, the strategic pivot is becoming clearer. Omnicom has restructured its business around “core operations”, stripping out assets earmarked for sale to highlight the segments driving future growth. More than half of its revenue now comes from integrated media, which includes data, commerce, CRM and content automation, areas that are growing faster than traditional advertising.
Indeed, integrated media led growth in the quarter with high single-digit gains, while PR and experiential businesses delivered mid-single-digit growth. Healthcare posted modest gains, while traditional advertising lagged, reflecting a broader industry shift towards performance-driven and tech-enabled marketing.
Central to this transformation is Omni, the company’s AI-powered marketing and sales platform. Rolled out across the organisation during the quarter, the system connects data, talent and services while enabling AI-driven workflows.
The platform is already delivering tangible results, improving media performance, speeding up campaign execution and enhancing measurement capabilities. Integration with partners such as Adobe and Amazon is further expanding its reach.
“We’ve put the latest agentic AI tools in the hands of all our employees,” said Wren, highlighting the company’s push towards automation and data-led decision-making.
The shift is also reshaping client relationships. Omnicom reported new business wins with major brands including IBM, GSK and John Deere, while expanding engagements with existing clients such as Unilever and Exxon. Increasingly, clients are opting for consolidated partnerships, relying on a single provider for end-to-end marketing and sales services.
“There’s a clear trend of clients choosing one partner to manage most of their needs,” said John Wren. “Our integrated model makes that easier.”
Geographically, the US remains the largest market, contributing 61 per cent of revenue, followed by Europe and the UK at 21 per cent. Growth was strongest in the US, with other regions posting modest gains.
The balance sheet remains solid despite increased debt following the acquisition. Long-term debt stood at $10.2 billion at the end of the quarter, while liquidity was supported by $4.3 billion in cash and a $3.5 billion revolving credit facility. The company is also returning capital to shareholders, repurchasing $2.8 billion worth of shares in Q1 as part of a planned $5 billion buyback programme.
Looking ahead, Omnicom remains optimistic but cautious. While the company expects double-digit EPS growth for the year, it acknowledged ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly in the Middle East, though the region accounts for less than 2.5 per cent of revenue.
The integration of Interpublic is still in its early stages, but the initial signs point to a business that is not just bigger, but structurally different. With AI at its core, a streamlined portfolio and a growing tilt towards integrated services, Omnicom is betting that scale, simplicity and smart technology will keep it ahead in an increasingly complex marketing landscape.
If the first quarter is anything to go by, that bet is already starting to pay off.
