Publicis CEO Sees Ad Industry Back At Full Speed In 2011

25th Jun 2010 16:30

By Ruth Bender Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES CANNES, France (Dow Jones)--The advertising market continues to improve faster than expected and should return at least to 2008 levels next year if current trends continue, Publicis Groupe SA's (PUB.FR) chief executive said Friday. Global advertising spending will probably rise by more than the 2.2% Publicis's unit ZenithOptimedia currently forecasts, CEO Maurice Levy told Dow Jones Newswires at the Cannes Advertising Festival. "I have the impression there will be a reevaluation of global ad spend estimates." Levy expects all markets to accelerate their improvement throughout the year, even Europe, which is still lagging the recovery. April, May and June business trends were encouraging and Publicis will post higher organic revenue growth in the second quarter than in the first quarter, Levy said. Publicis still wants to make acquisitions in digital and emerging markets but isn't interested in buying U.S.-based advertising firm Interpublic Group Of Cos. (IPG), Levy said. For years the market has speculated that Publicis will buy Interpublic. Martin Sorrell, CEO of rival WPP PLC (WPP.LN), has repeatedly said Publicis will end up merging with the New-York based group, which Levy has denied. "Mr. Sorrell is very interested in others," Levy said. "For the past five years he has said Havas SA (HAV.FR) will buy Aegis Group PLC (AGS.LN) and Publicis will buy Interpublic. The disc is scratched." Levy said the group would be willing to make a bigger acquisition, if it found a target. -By Ruth Bender, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 40 17 17 54; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 25, 2010 11:30 ET (15:30 GMT)