AD Agencies
Liqvd Asia wins four mandates, adds Rs 35 crore pipeline
New clients across sectors signal strong start to 2026 for agency
MUMBAI: Liqvd Asia has kicked off 2026 on a high note, securing four new mandates that are set to add roughly Rs 35 crore to its future business pipeline.
The digital-first agency has brought on board a diverse mix of clients, including Origami, Kasturi Foods, Sama.live and Woodland, spanning consumer goods, regional brands, emerging platforms and established players.
Each mandate comes with a tailored brief. While the agency will handle integrated marketing communications for Origami, it will manage creative, social and media duties for Kasturi Foods as the brand looks to expand beyond its Odisha stronghold. For Sama.live, the focus will be on building brand narrative and enterprise credibility, while Woodland’s mandate centres on digital and social storytelling.
For Liqvd Asia founder and managing director Arnab Mitra, the wins reflect a deliberate shift in how the agency positions itself. He said the focus is on being an integrated growth partner, combining strategy and creativity to deliver long-term brand value alongside business impact.
Echoing this, Liqvd Asia business head Monish Sanghavi, highlighted that the new partnerships align with the agency’s intent to build scalable and structured growth roadmaps, where creativity is anchored in data and performance is closely tied to outcomes.
From the client side, Kasturi Foods sees the collaboration as a step towards national expansion. The company said the partnership will help it balance its regional legacy with a sharper digital presence as it reaches new markets.
With a growing roster and a pipeline that is steadily thickening, Liqvd Asia appears to be turning early momentum into a broader statement. In a crowded digital marketplace, the agency is not just adding clients, it is adding intent.
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.
