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Publicis has made a strong start in 2024, releasing unaudited figures that reveal a 6.3% organic growth in 2023. The company is transitioning from a platform-based organization to an “AI-powered Intelligent System company” that connects data from all its expertise, business units, and global locations, making it accessible to all its employees.
To support this transformation, Publicis plans to invest an additional $327 million over the next three years, with half allocated to upskilling and recruitment and the other half dedicated to enhancing AI technology, building on the capabilities of Sapient and Epsilon.
The CEO highlighted that their shift from a holding company to a platform was challenging but rewarding, as demonstrated by their 2023 organic growth, which has outpaced the industry for the fourth consecutive year. The platform, coupled with their proprietary data and a team of 45,000 engineers, consultants, and data analysts, positions Publicis to further push the boundaries by harnessing AI.
In terms of regional performance, Publicis achieved 6.3% organic growth in 2023, with 5.7% growth in Q4. Epsilon led the way with a 10% increase, media saw double-digit growth, and creative experienced low single-figure growth. The US, which accounts for 60% of revenue, grew by 5%, while Europe saw a 10.3% increase, Asia grew by 2.9% (hindered by China), Africa by 12.4%, and Latin America by 8.9%.
Publicis’s strong performance comes just ahead of WPP’s Investor Day, where questions may arise about why WPP, once a leader in the industry, is not achieving similar growth.