Asia Pacific – Publicis Groupe posted a 3rd quarter decline of 12.4% year-on-year for the Asia Pacific market with revenues of only US$170 million, less 15M from the same period in 2008.
The drop is a result of the global downturn and its effect on the region.
Publicis Group registers the same decline in all markets, with total revenues falling 7.4%. Europe and North America dropped 9.5% and 5.3%, respectively. Both markets, however, had higher initial bases.
Despite the results, the company’s digital business is on the rise, up at 5.5% year on year over the period. Already accounting for 21% todate, digital is expected to boost revenues up to 25% for 2010.
In September, Publicis Groupe’s mobile marketing agency Phonevalley entered into an agreement with Microsoft Mobile Advertising. A month earlier, it bought the latter’s Razorfish for US$530M.
Of the poor results, Maurice Levy, Publicis Groupe CEO, is positive of the industry’s recovery, however slow. Quoted in New Media Age, Levy says, “It’s starting its recovery which will be slow and progressive. “Positive growth numbers should be established during the second half of 2010.”
The Publicis Groupe includes Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, Fallon, Leo Burnett, Digitas, Starcom and ZenithOptimedia.
