Click here to access the full market report: The Great Reboot.
After a challenging year grappling with global economic instability, a mega-merger that ripped up the established agency playing field, a dampened creative new-business market, the threat of in-housing, and the disruptive force of AI, adland’s giants, if they hadn’t already, were forced to think differently.
In most cases, that meant a repositioning away from the increasingly unpopular “holding company” label.
In its latest market report, Campaign Red assesses the latest figures around the holding company orbit, using data from financial accounts and stock markets to consultancies and global award schemes.
In the full report find out about:
- The Great Reboot: Campaign UK editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier reveals the revenue story of 2025, how Publicis led the pack with 5.6% organic growth, while WPP suffered a bruising 5.4% decline.
- The 12,000 ghosts: Campaign Red research finds the biggest headcount slump since the pandemic, as WPP cut 9400 jobs and Omnicom purged 8,200 roles. Publicis defied the trend by adding 5800 staff to its ranks.
- The return of M&A: explore the market rebound, driven by Publicis and Havas, while WPP rules out a buying spree and the new Omnicom quietly prepares to sell off or exit $2.5bn in revenue.
- A crisis of shareholder confidence: how a turbulent stock market saw WPP’s share price plunge by 59%, and Havas emerges as the unlikely dark horse – the only group to end the year with its stock in the green.
- The new-business battlefield: how Publicis conquered the market, taking 36.1% of media net new-biz billings as clients demand radical simplification.
- The global awards rankings: find out how WPP maintained its creative dominance, even as independent agencies secured major accolades. Will the new Omnicom knock WPP off its winning perch this year?
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Click here to access the full market report: The Great Reboot.
Source: Campaign Red
