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Publicis upbeat on 61% rise in revenues
Publicis Groupe SA of France, the world’s fourth- largest marketing and advertising company has registered a 60.7 per cent rise in second-quarter sales. Publicis, which owns agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett, has reported a raise in revenues for the first time in a year and a half.
This substantial boost in revenues is being attributed to last year’s client additions of McDonald’s Corp, which Publicis acquired through the purchase of Bcom3 Group Inc last September. The acquisition catapulted the group from number five to the fourth spot last year. Also, the company has recently won new brands worth 915 million euros, including Eurotunnel of UK, the Greek Olympic Committee and Virgin Credit Cards.
Boosted by strong performance in the US, organic sales for the second quarter registered a growth of 1.6 per cent after factoring out acquisitions and currency fluctuations, a first time hike since the fourth quarter of 2001, said chairman and CEO Maurice Levy during an analysts’ conference.
The French advertising group has thrown up mixed results in different markets. Even though revenues declined markedly in France and Netherlands, Germany and Italy have shown some improvement, the group said.
Improvement in the North American and Asia-Pacific regions turned out to be the most distinct, where the group said the effects of Sars had been temporary and limited. The North American region, Publicis’ largest revenue source, posted an 80 per cent growth in revenue, which translates into 4.6 per cent on organic basis.
Organic revenues in Europe, however, have continued to fall, slipping by 3.7 per cent to ?520 million in the first half of the year. Conditions in Brazil were again difficult during the second quarter, the group added.
Pointing out the unsettled and uncertain advertising markets, chairman and chief executive Maurice Levy said, “While forecasts still call for a general recovery in early 2004, many uncertainties remain.”
Its larger rivals include Omnicom Group Inc., Interpublic Group of Cos, and WPP.
Publicis, which already owns three-fourths of ZenithOptimedia, is trying to buy the remaining 25 per cent of market researcher ZenithOptimedia from WPP Group Plc. It may have to cough up as much as ?85 million ($136 million) for the acquisition out of which 75 million pounds would be for the 25 per cent stake and 10 million pounds for franchises, Levy said. The deal is expected to go through by January.
With the US markets looking up, the outlook for the company is upbeat.
MAM
Bark Out Loud launches #ThriveSharedJourney with Huma Qureshi
New campaign reframes pet nutrition as a mindful, shared growth journey.
MUMBAI: Bark Out Loud just gave pet parenting a leash on meaning because when your dog’s dinner becomes a daily pact, even the kibble starts feeling like a love letter. Bark Out Loud by Vivaldis has unveiled #ThriveSharedJourney, a new campaign for its Thrive range of pet food, featuring actress and pet parent Huma Qureshi. Launched around International Women’s Day 2026, the campaign shifts the narrative from routine feeding to intentional, shared growth between pets and their owners.
The core idea, thriving isn’t automatic, it’s a conscious decision made together. Today’s pet parents track their own milestones and upgrade their lives, yet pet nutrition often slips into autopilot. The campaign challenges that gap, showing that real wellbeing comes from active participation, not passive provision.
A heartfelt film starring Huma Qureshi captures this shift: everyday moments of connection over Thrive meals become the building blocks of a stronger bond. The message is clear growth is shared, not solo.
Bark Out Loud by Vivaldis CEO Kunal Khanna said, “Pet parents today love their pets deeply, but there is still a gap when it comes to everyday nutrition awareness. #ThriveSharedJourney is our way of building a more responsible culture of feeding, where thriving becomes a shared commitment.”
Bark Out Loud business head Devika Khanna added, “Thrive has been created to bridge that gap with clean, thoughtfully developed recipes that support digestion and overall wellbeing. Partnering with Huma allows us to tell this story in a way that feels real and relatable.”
The campaign will roll out through digital films, creator collaborations and community conversations, positioning Thrive as a daily investment in long-term health rather than a habitual purchase.
In a world where pets are family, Bark Out Loud isn’t just feeding them, it’s feeding the idea that every bowl is a promise: we grow together, we thrive together, one mindful kibble at a time.
