• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, January 7, 2019

Publicis Groupe namesake agency Publicis is Adland’s creative agency pitch king through the first 11 months of 2018, according to the latest tally from R3 Worldwide. The ranking is based on estimated net revenue.

Globally, the agency has 171 wins during that period, including its recent victory in the Nike China pitch. Recent losses included Home Depot Canada. R3 estimates the agency’s net revenue for the period at $183.8 million.

Sibling agency Leo Burnett is second-ranked with 246 wins and estimated net revenue of $161.7 million. The shop recently won the Wingstop account in the U.S. A notable loss: KEI industries India.

WPP’s J. Walter Thompson (now part of Wunderman Thompson) is third-ranked with net revenue of $149.8 million and 529 wins, including two recent wins for the North America region: Mazda and United Health Group. One recent loss is Shell Global.

Interpublic’s McCann World Group is fourth-ranked with revenue of $128.8 and 298 wins including its recent victory in the Columbia Sportswear global pitch.

Rounding out the global top five is WPP’s Ogilvy, with revenue $109 million and 339 wins, including Country Crock in the U.S.

Through November, R3 estimates that global net revenue for creative agencies (which factors in losses) amounted to nearly $1.7 billion -- up 3.5%.

In the U.S. during the same period, Goodby Silverstein & Partners is top-ranked with net revenue of $107.3 million and eight wins, including Pepsi.

Burnett is second-ranked with $54.4 million in estimated net revenues for the region and four wins, including the aforementioned Wingstop. R/GA is third with $53.7 in net revenue and 45 wins including digital work for Ally Financial.

Publicis Groupe’s Saatchi & Saatchi is fourth-ranked with $49 million in revenue and four wins, including P&G’s fabric care division for North America.

Rounding out the top five is Wieden + Kennedy with $34 million in revenue and five wins including work for Ford.

R3 estimates that U.S. net revenue for creative shops was $627.1 million, down about 5% for the same 11-month period in 2017.