Publicis takes HP’s global media business from Omnicom

Agency networks were broadly in positive territory this week. Publicis recorded the strongest increase, up 3.6 percent, helped by a major account win. WPP recovered 2.1 percent from last week's Coca-Cola setback, while Omnicom gained 2.3 percent despite losing a major client. Dentsu and Havas remained largely flat. S4 Capital was the only company to decline, down 0.9 percent.

The week's news was dominated by HP's move to Publicis, a higher advertising forecast from WPP Media, and organizational restructuring at Omnicom and Dentsu.

Company	09/06	16/06	Change
WPP (GBP)	276.70	282.60	+2.1%
Publicis (EUR)	88.90	92.12	+3.6%
S4 Capital (GBP)	35.10	34.80	-0.9%
Dentsu (JPY)	3109	3122	+0.4%
Omnicom (USD)	75.63	77.37	+2.3%
Havas (EUR)	17.20	17.25	+0.3%

WPP

WPP rebounded after a weak week linked to Coca-Cola. WPP Media raised its global growth forecast for 2026 by 1.8 percentage points to 9.7 percent and estimates the advertising market at approximately $1.3 trillion, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. In addition, WPP agency EssenceMediacom won the media account for Just Eat, and the group appointed Baiju Shah as Chief Strategy Officer. The company's share price rose 2.1 percent.

Publicis Groupe

Publicis was the week's strongest performer. The group won HP's global media account, a contract that Adweek estimates to be worth approximately $250 million, ending the 17-year period during which Omnicom managed the account. HP spent $194 million on media globally in 2023, of which 69 percent was digital. Ahead of Cannes, Publicis CEO Arthur Sadoun warned against exaggerated promises about AI in agency pitches. The stock gained 3.6 percent.

Omnicom Group

After 17 years, Omnicom lost HP's global media account to Publicis following a closed pitch between the two networks. At the same time, the company is restructuring its media organization across several regions, with new leadership in the United States, a new operating model in the Middle East and North Africa, and a dedicated client-success discipline in Asia-Pacific. Despite losing the account, the company's share price increased by 2.3 percent.

S4 Capital

S4 Capital was the week's only decliner, down 0.9 percent. In an interview with Adweek, founder Martin Sorrell said there is little room for acquisitions among the major holding companies and that S4 is currently in a stabilization phase. The company remains heavily dependent on technology clients, many of whom are shifting budgets toward building their own AI capabilities.

Havas

Havas acquired a majority stake in the U.S. creative agency Archrival. The company also expanded its use of agentic AI in Spain through a partnership between Havas Media and PubMatic and reported progress on its ongoing share buyback program. The stock was largely unchanged, rising 0.3 percent.

Dentsu

Dentsu is relaunching the 360i brand as an AI-enabled, social-first team. The move is intended to strengthen the company's position in social media and fast-moving, culturally driven content. The stock edged up 0.4 percent.

Marketing Report Markets is an editorial analysis of share price developments within the marketing communications sector and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell securities.

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