Omnicom pulled in US$6.42 billion(A$9.15 billion) in revenue during Q3 and reported that it is up 7.2 per cent year-on-year in organic thanks to a “pretty healthy” pitching environment as it looks beyond household-name accounts.
It marks the first time that the new Omnicom, including former IPG agencies, have reported Q3 numbers since it acquired the other holdco late last year.
Omnicom records “organic” revenue which excludes the businesses it has sold or plans to sell, including specialist firms and agencies that overlap with its own.
The revenue from its core operations increased $407.4 million, or 7.3 per cent, to $6.0 billion. Omnicom’s adjusted EBITA increased a quarter year-on-year.
However, its overall revenue dipped slightly from $6.53 billion this time last year to $6.42 billion — though this figure is comparing the combined pre-acquisition revenue of IPG and Omnicom, so it is, to an extent, apples and oranges.
The results come as Omnicom approaches the first anniversary of its IPG acquisition, with Wren saying the combined business is strengthening its competitive position and delivering anticipated cost synergies.
“We have strengthened our competitive market position and commercial offerings and are realising the anticipated transaction synergies, which is reflected in our financial results,” Wren said.
Looking at ‘a brighter future’ of pitch activity
During an earnings call with investors, Wren said Omnicom’s pitch pipeline remained consistent with typical activity levels, with the group winning more than its fair share of opportunities.
“The pitch activity is about the same as it typically is, and it’s pretty healthy, and we’re winning more than our fair share,” he said.
“Not all the names are household names like Pepsi or Coke, but we’re making real progress.”
Wren said the group was approaching a more favourable position as most accounts that wanted to enter a review had done so during the first nine months of the year.
“I would say that there’s more opportunity for business we’re not defending as we look forward, where if winning it would be a net gain to our operating position,” he said.
“I think whatever accounts wanted to go into review, for the most part have in the first nine months of this year. So we’ve cleared that, and we’re now looking to a brighter future in terms of pitch activity.”
The comments follow a series of significant account developments for Omnicom’s agencies.
In Australia, OMD won Qantas and Jetstar’s media accounts across Asia Pacific, while the agency network also secured Adidas’ media account globally. UM, now part of Omnicom following the IPG acquisition, retained Dyson’s global media account earlier this year.
Media remains a major growth driver
Media continued to account for the largest share of Omnicom’s core operations revenue, generating US$3.19 billion during the quarter, or 53 per cent of the total.
Wren said consistent growth in media had been a feature throughout 2026, with the quarter also benefiting from spending associated with the FIFA World Cup and, to a lesser extent, US midterm elections.
“The two areas that I point out for the quarter was the consistent growth in media, which has been true throughout the entire year,” he said.
Wren acknowledged that although the business would not receive the same World Cup-related benefit next year, he mentioned the 2028 Olympic Games as being a future opportunity.
Omnicom’s other core operations revenue contributions included US$935.4 million from advertising, US$678.3 million from public relations, US$644.3 million from experiential and other services, and US$566.6 million from health.
The Asia Pacific region contributed US$573.1 million in core operations revenue during the third quarter, representing 9.6 per cent of the group’s total.
For the first nine months of 2026, the region generated US$1.61 billion, or 9.2 per cent of core operations revenue.
