Publicis Groupe secured 56% of global new business billings in 2025, according to COMvergence data released this week, capturing more than double the pitch volume of WPP and Omnicom despite trailing Omnicom in total revenue. The figure represents the widest margin between holding companies in annual new business reporting since COMvergence began tracking consolidated wins in 2014. Publicis added $4.2 billion in net new billings across its network, while WPP recorded $1.8 billion and Omnicom $1.6 billion before its merger with Interpublic closed in December.
The divergence matters because new business velocity historically predicts organic growth eighteen to twenty-four months forward. Publicis has now led new business rankings for three consecutive years, but 2025 marks the first time the gap exceeded 30 percentage points over its nearest competitor. The network won 68 accounts with billings above $25 million, compared to 29 for WPP and 22 for Omnicom pre-merger. Publicis MediaSolutions accounted for 41% of the total, driven by automotive and pharmaceutical mandates in North America and EMEA. Publicis Sapient added $780 million in commerce and platform work, primarily from financial services clients consolidating their agency rosters.
Omnicom remains the largest holding company by revenue after absorbing Interpublic's $10.9 billion in annual billings, but the merger consumed executive attention during the year's two largest pitch cycles. Omnicom participated in 14 global reviews above $100 million in Q2 and Q3 2025, winning three. Publicis participated in 22 and won 16. The pattern suggests Omnicom prioritized integration over competitive pursuit, a predictable trade-off that nonetheless compounds once new business momentum shifts. WPP's performance was more structural—GroupM lost $340 million in net billings to independents and consultancies, offsetting wins at Wunderman Thompson and AKQA. The network's emphasis on consulting-led transformation work has not yet translated to media consolidation, which remains the largest single source of billings in annual new business tallies.
Allocators and agency development officers should watch three sequences. First, whether Publicis converts its new business lead into organic growth above 4% in 2026, which would exceed analyst consensus and validate the billings-to-growth correlation. Second, how Omnicom deploys its post-merger integration savings—management has indicated $750 million in synergies by end of 2026, with roughly half available for competitive response. Third, whether WPP's consultancy positioning attracts larger platform mandates in H1 2026, particularly in retail media and commerce, where Publicis currently holds share. The time lag between pitch wins and revenue recognition means 2026 organic growth figures will reflect 2025 competitive decisions, making Q1 earnings calls unusually predictive.
Publicis has scheduled its annual investor day for March 12, where management typically provides net new business figures by region and discipline. The last time a holding company captured more than 50% of annual new business was Omnicom in 2017, the year before it posted 6.1% organic growth.