WPP overtakes Omnicom as biggest marketing group

The UK-based group led by chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell was helped by its acquisition of top tier market research company TNS in October 2008.

The addition led to a 13 per cent increase in WPP's calendar year revenue – from US$10.7 billion in 2008 to US$12.1 billion in 2009.

View full table of financial results

US-based Omnicom suffered a 12 per cent drop in revenue from US$13.4 billion in 2008 to US$11.7 billion in 2009 as, along with the rest of the industry, it was hit by reduced client spend.

However, Omnicom was the most profitable company in the rankings, which were compiled by Marketing Services Financial Intelligence.

Despite Omnicom's post-tax profit falling 21 per cent and WPP's holding steady, the former weighed in with a figure of U$793 million to the latter's US$666 million.

Publicis Groupe claimed third place from US-based Interpublic in revenue terms, with just a 4 per cent drop to US$6.4 billion compared to Interpublic's 13 per cent drop to US$6 billion.

Japan's Dentsu, France's Havas and the UK's Aegis occupied the next three places.

Dentsu was strong on profitability, with post-tax profits of US$341 million outstripping the combined profits of Havas, Interpublic and Aegis.

It placed fourth in the ranking of post-tax profits after Publicis Groupe, which earned US$573 million.

Copies of the full report, 'The Global Greats 2010', are available from Marketing Services Financial Intelligence.

This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk.