AD Agencies
PolicyBazaar.com appoints Lowe Lintas as advertising agency
MUMBAI: PolicyBazaar.com, a web aggregator for insurance, has appointed Lowe Lintas as its advertising agency.
The development comes close to the company receiving a funding of $20 million, most of which will be deployed to step up marketing activities and ramp up technology.
PolicyBazaar.com CMO Naveen Kukreja said, “PolicyBazaar.com has been a key force in developing online insurance along with our insurance partners. Over the last six years, we have helped more than 50 lakh users save money by comparing different policies before purchase. Online purchase and the habit of comparing different options through a neutral platform, is still in a nascent stage though. Our key focus now, is to increase the reach, awareness and build on our strength as a preferred destination for comparison, and saving on purchase of insurance policies.”
He added, “In order to meet this objective, we are excited to partner with Lowe Lintas as our brand agency. With them on board, we are now gearing up for a new brand positioning and innovative marketing campaigns in the near future. We chose Lowe Lintas for their clear understanding of our brand, proven record for delivering some of the most successful ad campaigns and focus on delivering business results.”
Lowe Lintas & Partners president Naveen Gaur said, ‘‘PolicyBazaar.com is a young dynamic brand which has revolutionised the financial management and investments category. Its proposition of comparing financial products is truly unique. We were very excited by this proposition and that clearly showed in our presentation to them. The first set of work after our formal association with each other will be out shortly, and I am sure that this will be the first of many steps we will take together to make this brand the success it should rightfully be.”
PolicyBazaar.com, which recently completed six years, has already launched strong campaigns, which urge people to compare insurance policies before making their purchase. This year, they have already kicked off a campaign in July and are looking to roll out more campaigns. The company also recently experimented by launching a radio campaign in Delhi.
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.
