Mumbai/IBNS-CMEDIA: Global media and marketing powerhouse Omnicom is set to lay off 4,000 employees and shut down several long-standing advertising agencies as part of a major restructuring following its acquisition by US-based Interpublic Group (IPG), the Financial Times reported.
As part of the consolidation, IPG-owned FCB, one of the world’s largest advertising networks, will be folded into Omnicom’s BBDO. Creative agencies DDB and MullenLowe will also be merged with Omnicom’s TBWA, the report added.
The $13 billion takeover has made Omnicom the world’s largest advertising agency group by revenue, with the combined entity now overseeing dozens of agencies globally.
The move comes amid rising competitive pressure from tech giants such as Google and Meta, whose advanced AI advertising tools are disrupting traditional agency models.
With AI enabling businesses to produce ads rapidly and at low cost — including images, videos, and text — traditional creative processes are becoming increasingly obsolete.
Omnicom CEO John Wren said most of the 4,000 job cuts would affect administrative roles, though some leadership positions may also be trimmed.
“There are efficiencies — they come in the form of labour and other things,” Wren told Financial Times. “But anybody that was generating revenue before December last year has a very good position with us today.”
Both Omnicom and IPG had already been downsizing since last year when the deal was first agreed. IPG eliminated about 4,000 jobs in 2024 and an additional 2,400 positions in the first half of 2025, while Omnicom cut 3,000 jobs in 2024.
