Publicis

{{short description|French multinational advertising and public relations company}}

{{redirect|Moxie (company)|other companies|Moxie (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox company

|name = Publicis Groupe S.A.

|logo = Publicis logo.svg

|logo_size =

|type = Public

|traded_as = {{Unbulleted list|{{EuronextParis|PUB|FR0000130577|XPAR}}|CAC 40 component}}

|area_served = Worldwide

|key_people = Arthur Sadoun (chairman and CEO){{cite web|url=https://www.publicisgroupe.com/sites/default/files/press-releases/2025-02/CP_Resultats_FY2024%20ENG_20250204_0.pdf|title=Full Year 2024 Results|publisher=Publicis Groupe S.A.|date=4 February 2025|access-date=21 March 2025}}

|founder = Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet

|industry = {{Unbulleted list|Advertising|Public relations}}

|products = {{Unbulleted list|Branding & identity| Marketing|Market research|Public relations}}

|revenue = {{increase}} €16.03 billion (2024)

|operating_income = {{increase}} €2.21 billion (2024)

|net_income = {{increase}} €1.66 billion (2024)

|assets = {{nowrap|{{increase}} €39.85 billion (2024)}}

|equity = {{nowrap|{{increase}} €11.06 billion (2024)}}

|num_employees = 103,000 (2024)

|foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1926}}

|location = Paris, France

|homepage = {{url|publicisgroupe.com}}

}}

Publicis Groupe S.A. is a French multinational advertising and public relations company. As of 2024, the company is the largest advertising company in the world by revenue.{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Emma |date=2025-06-11 |title=WPP loses $1.7bn Mars account to rival Publicis |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/wpp-loses-17bn-mars-account-to-rival-publicis-r97kng28w |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}} Based in Paris, it is one of the 'Big Four' advertising commpanies, alongside WPP, Interpublic and Omnicom.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/31/business/advertising-s-big-four-it-s-their-world-now.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|author=Elliott, Stuart|title=Advertising's Big Four: It's Their World Now|work=The New York Times|date=31 March 2002|access-date=3 October 2017}} Publicis Groupe S.A. is headed by Arthur Sadoun, and its agencies provide digital and traditional advertising, media services and marketing services to national and multinational clients.

History

The company was founded by 20 year old Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet in 1926.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jul/28/omnicom-publicis-merger-france-united-states | title=Omnicom and Publicis merger creates communications giant|work=The Guardian|date=28 July 2013|author=Garside, Juliette|access-date=3 October 2017}}

After 1945, the company grew rapidly, becoming the world's fourth-largest agency. {{when|date=November 2015}} It was a leader in promoting France's post-war economic boom, especially the expansion of the advertising industry; it was successful because of its close ties with top officials of the French government, its clever use of symbols to promote itself, and its ability to attract clients from widely diverse growing industries.Clark Hultquist, "Publicis and the French advertising world, 1946--1968" Essays in Economic & Business History (2009) 27: 61-76.

In 2011, Publicis was named the third-largest marketing group worldwide by revenue, surpassing Interpublic.{{cite web|last=Brand Republic.|title=WPP overtakes Omnicom as biggest marketing group|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1047865/wpp-overtakes-omnicom-biggest-marketing-group/|access-date=12 April 2011}} By the end of 2010, the twin sectors of digital activities and high-growth emerging countries represented one-half of Publicis Groupe's total revenue.

The group had operations in over 202 cities in 105 countries, including a strategic alliance with Dentsu.

In July 2012 it was announced that Publicis Groupe and Omnicom Group would merge to form Publicis Omnicom Group, but by May 2014 it was announced that the deal had fallen through and the Publicis-Omnicom merger would not happen.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-publicis-omnicom-merger-20130728,0,4589938.story|author=Channick, Robert|title=Leo Burnett parent in huge ad merger deal|work=The Chicago Tribune|date=28 July 2013|access-date=3 October 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/ad-agency-giants-said-to-call-off-35-billion-merger/?_php=true&_type=blogs&hpw&rref=business&_r=0|author=Celles, David|title=At Odds, Omnicom and Publicis End Merger|work=The New York Times|date=8 May 2014|access-date=3 October 2017}}

In February 2015, Publicis acquired Sapient Corporation to form Publicis.Sapient as the world's largest digital network, which at the time included SapientNitro, Sapient Consulting, the community, DigitasLBI and RazorfishGlobal.{{cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/agencies/sapientrazorfish-lays-off-100-in-u-s-as-publicis-prepares-to-retire-the-brand-sources-say/ |title=SapientRazorfish Lays Off 100 in U.S. as Publicis Prepares to Retire the Brand, Sources Say |website=adweek.com |date=2018-07-12 |access-date=2019-01-17}}

In September 2015 The Publicis Groupe acquired the South African marketing, promotions and activations agency The Creative Counsel. The acquisition was reported as the largest agency buyout ever to happen in South Africa, with an unconfirmed valuation of between R1bn and R1.5bn.{{cite web|title=Publicis Gets Creative|url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/financial-mail/20150911/281891592050693 |via=pressreader|work= Financial Mail|access-date=4 February 2021 |date=11 September 2015}}{{cite web |title=Publicis Africa Group buys Creative Counsel in record deal|url=https://www.marklives.com/2015/09/publicis-africa-group-buyscreative-counsel-in-record-deal/|website=marklives.com|access-date=4 February 2021 |date=10 September 2015}}{{cite web |title=Publicis Groupe acquires The Creative Counsel|url=https://themediaonline.co.za/2015/09/publicis-groupe-acquires-the-creative-counsel/|website=themediaonline.co.za|access-date=4 February 2021 |date=10 September 2015}}

In December 2015, Publicis announced a new organisation with four main divisions:{{cite web|url= https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/publicis-groupe-unveils-major-restructuring-plan-take-effect-2016-168408/ |title=Publicis Groupe Unveils Major Restructuring Plan for 2016 |website=adweek.com |date=2015-12-02 |access-date=2019-01-14}}

Publicis Communications (gathering creative networks Leo Burnett Worldwide, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), global design and technology consultancy Nurun, and creative production group Prodigious Brand Logistics and global PR agency MSLGROUP) under the leadership of Arthur Sadoun;
Publicis Media (gathering the media planning and buying capabilities of Starcom Mediavest Group and ZenithOptimedia) under the leadership of Steve King;
Publicis.Sapient (gathering technology and digital agencies Razorfish, DigitasLBi and Sapient Corporation) under the leadership of Alan Herrick;
Publicis Healthcare, already in existence, will remain under the leadership of Nick Colucci.

In addition, in January 2016, Laura Desmond became Chief Revenue Officer.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-27 |title=Publicis Groupe Announces Chief Revenue Officer Laura Desmond's Resignation |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/publicis-groupe-announces-chief-revenue-171602762.html |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://newsflash.publicisgroupe.net/uploadedDocs/20151202_021215_EN_PublicisGroupe_Transformation_DEF.pdf|title=Publicis Groupe Transformation DEF|date=2 December 2015}} {{Dead link|date=October 2018}}

Since 2016, Publicis has co-organised, with Groupe Les Echos, the annual technology conference, Viva Technology.{{Cite web|url=http://www.publicisgroupe.com/en/the-groupe/viva-technology|title=Viva Technology|access-date=2019-12-17}}

In 2017, CEO Maurice Lévy replaced Élisabeth Badinter (Bleustein-Blanchet's daughter) as chairman of the supervisory board and was succeeded as CEO by Arthur Sadoun.

On 21 January 2019, Publicis announced the deal to sell two of their Latinamerican agencies, NovaDigitas and Pixeldigital to BancroftX to form a new marketing firm under the group umbrella BancroftX.{{Cite web|url=https://bancroftx.com/bancroftx-buys-publicis-latam-marketing-and-content-agencies/|title=BANCROFTx' buys Publicis Latam agencies: deal non-discloused|last=Margaret|first=Bloomberg|date=2019-01-21|website=bancroftx.com|access-date=2019-02-17}}

On 14 April 2019, Publicis announced a $4.4 billion deal to acquire data marketing firm Epsilon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/15/publicis-4point4-billion-acquisition-of-epsilon-analysts-skeptical.html|title=Publicis' $4.4 billion acquisition of Epsilon: analysts skeptical|last=Graham|first=Megan|date=2019-04-15|website=cnbc.com|access-date=2019-04-17}}

On 4 February 2020, Publicis Groupe India announced the merging of existing agencies – Arc Worldwide, Solutions and Ecosys OOH, to create 'Publicis In-Motion'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/publicis-groupe-merges-two-agencies-to-create-publicis-in-motion-11580798306135.html|title=Publicis Groupe merges two agencies to create Publicis In-Motion|last=Tewari|first=Saumya|date=2020-02-04|website=livemint.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}} In January 2014, Publicis acquired Law & Kenneth, an Indian advertising and digital agency.{{cite news |last1=Nair Ghaswalla |first1=Amrita |title=Publicis Groupe acquires Law & Kenneth |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/publicis-groupe-acquires-law-amp-kenneth/article23152769.ece |work=The Hindu Business Line |date=30 January 2014}}

On 3 May 2022 French advertising holding company Publicis Groupe acquired Profitero, an e-commerce software company that provides analytics for brands, as marketer clients are increasingly seeking services in commerce.{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Megan |date=2022-05-03 |title=Publicis Groupe Acquires E-Commerce Software Company Profitero |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/publicis-groupe-acquires-e-commerce-software-company-profitero-11651592700 |access-date=2022-05-13 |issn=0099-9660}}

In September 2022 Publicis Groupe brings home Vietnam's only Effie Award in 2022 with ‘Keep Stories Alive’.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-08 |title=Publicis Groupe slashes office space in Chicago |url=https://adage.com/article/agency-news/publicis-groupe-slashes-chicago-office-space/2470236 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Ad Age |language=en}}

On 5 June 2023, Publicis Groupe announced the acquisition of Corra, an ecommerce leader recognized by Adobe as one of the top commerce firms in North America.{{Cite web |title=Publicis Groupe |url=https://www.publicisgroupe.com/en/news/press-releases/publicis-sapient-publicis-groupe-s-digital-business-transformation-company-announces-acquisition-of-corra-to-further-cement-leadership-in-the-adobe-implementation-space-in-north-america |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=www.publicisgroupe.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-05 |title=Publicis Sapient, Publicis Groupe's Digital Business Transformation Company, Announces Acquisition of Corra to Further Cement Leadership in the Adobe Implementation Space in North America |url=https://corra.com/resources/blog/publicis-sapient-announces-acquisition-of-corra/ |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=Corra |language=en-US}}

In June 2025, the company acquired the advertising mandate for Mars Inc. estimated to be worth $1.7 billion.{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Emma |date=2025-06-11 |title=WPP loses $1.7bn Mars account to rival Publicis |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/wpp-loses-17bn-mars-account-to-rival-publicis-r97kng28w |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}

Operations

The company owns several full-service advertising groups that undertake a range of media activities: mobile and interactive online communication, television, magazines & newspapers, cinema and radio, and outdoor. The company's SAMS services include direct marketing/customer relationship management services, sales promotion, healthcare communications, multicultural and ethnic communications, corporate and financial communications, human resource infrastructure, public relations, design services, interactive communications, events marketing and management, sports marketing, and production and pre-press services.[http://www.adaan.com/pdf/History-of-Digital-Prepress.pdf History of Digital Pre-Press Services]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (last checked on 11 February 2008) Its media services include media planning, media buying, and media sales. Publicis Groupe's Vivaki{{cite web|url=http://www.vivaki.com/about|title=About – VivaKi|access-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023121315/http://www.vivaki.com/about|archive-date=23 October 2016|url-status=dead}} developed a technological platform supported by Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and AOL Platform A technologies that offer advertisers the possibility to target specifically defined audiences in a single campaign across multiple networks.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

Controversies

{{See also|Public executions in Saudi Arabia|Capital punishment in Saudi Arabia|Human rights in Saudi Arabia}}

Qorvis, a U.S. subsidiary of Publicis, has represented the country of Saudi Arabia since the September 11 attacks and has been accused of helping to whitewash its record on human rights.{{cite news|last=Green|first=Chris|title=PR firm accused of helping Saudi Arabia 'whitewash' its human rights record|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/pr-firm-accused-of-helping-saudi-arabia-whitewash-its-human-rights-record-a6937271.html|access-date=3 October 2017|work=The Independent|date=17 March 2016}}{{cite web|title=Supplemental Statement Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938|url=http://www.fara.gov/docs/5483-Supplemental-Statement-20150504-19.pdf|website=fara.gov|publisher=Foreign Agents Registration Act|access-date=3 October 2017|page=12|date=5 April 2015}} More recently, the writer Ken Klippenstein obtained leaked documents from Qorvis, which show the PR company pitched a private company on a four to five minute propaganda video, which hoped to improve the reputation of its Homestead, Florida shelter for "unaccompanied alien children".{{Cite web|url=https://tyt.com/stories/4vZLCHuQrYE4uKagy0oyMA/6tcosRq7ObVqebKo2ZQR11|title=Saudi-Linked Lobby Group Pitched Film to Humanize Child Detention Camp|last=Inc|first=The Young Turks|website=TYT Network|date=6 September 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wonkette.com/guess-well-never-get-to-see-baby-jail-the-movie-now|title=Guess We'll Never Get To See 'Baby Jails: The Movie' Now|date=9 September 2019 |website=Wonkette}}

Subsidiaries

As of October 2015, the main subsidiary companies of this group are:{{cite web |title=Publicis Groupe {{!}} Our Brands|url=http://www.publicisgroupe.com/#/en/group/entities/|website=PublicisGroupe.com|access-date=3 October 2017}}

Publicis Communications{{cite web|url=http://www.publicisgroupe.com/#/en/group/entities/advertising/|title=Publicis Groupe|first=Publicis|last=Groupe}}
Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH)
Glickman Shamir Samsonov
Leo Burnett Worldwide
Publicis New York
Publicis Worldwide
Publicis India
Publicis Beehive
Digitas
Saatchi & Saatchi
Epsilon
ROKKAN{{cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/publicis-groupe-acquires-rokkan-a-leading-us-digital-agency-184290401.html|title=Publicis Groupe Acquires Rokkan, a Leading US Digital Agency}}
Publicis Media
Starcom
Zenith
Frubis
Spark Foundry
Publicis Collective
Digitas
GroupeConnect
Blue 449
Performics
Publicis Health Media
Publicis Global Delivery (PGD)
Publicis Sport & Entertainment
Saatchi & Saatchi
Publicis Sapient
3{{!}}SHARE{{cite web|url=http://www.3sharecorp.com|title=3-SHARE – Adobe Experience Manager Experts|website=3sharecorp.com|access-date=3 October 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/10/15/673485/10102784/en/Publicis-Groupe-Acquires-3-Share-Adobe-Digital-Marketing-Experts.html|title=Publicis Groupe Acquires 3{{!}}Share, Adobe Digital Marketing Experts|last=Groupe|first=Publicis|newspaper=GlobeNewswire News Room|language=en-US|access-date=3 October 2017}}
SapientRazorfish
Rosetta{{cite web|url=http://www.rosetta.com/|title=Rosetta is an Agency Focused on Customer Engagement|publisher=Rosetta|access-date=3 October 2017}}
Publicis Pixelpark
Publicis Sapient
Vertiba
vivaki
Publicis Health
Specialized Agencies{{cite web|url=http://www.publicisgroupe.com/#/en/group/entities/specialist/|title=Publicis Groupe|first=Publicis|last=Groupe}}
Médias & Régies
PMCI (content and innovation)
LionVault (Web3 Specialist Group)
MSLGROUP
Prodigious Brand Logistics
Translate Plus Limited (The Publicis Language Services)
Publicis Healthcare Communications Group
The Creative Counsel{{cite web|title=2019 Publicis Annual financial report – Fully consolidated companies – Page 247|url=https://publicisgroupe-csr-smart-data.com/assets/archives/en/publicis-urd-2019-en.pdf|website=Publicis Groupe|access-date=4 February 2021 |date=2019}}

PublicisLive

PublicisLive is a global event management and strategic communication firm founded in 1995 and has offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul, Kigali and Paris. PublicisLive is part of Publicis Groupe.