In its first quarter to
reflect the year-over-year impact of the COVID-19 pandemic -- albeit partially -- Publicis Groupe reported a moderate decline in net revenues, but actually posted organic growth.
For
the first quarter of 2021, Publicis’ net revenues declined 3.6% from the first quarter of 2020, which included March, the first month to substantially feel the impact of ad-spending cutbacks due
to the pandemic.
The impact was most modest in Asia-Pacific -- especially China, which was the first region to be impacted by the pandemic, while the Middle East/Africa and Latin
America regions showed the steepest declines.
North America, by far Publicis’ biggest market, declined 3.2%.
“China, which was the first country
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, posted an organic growth of +3.0% thanks to a better sanitary context and strong series of wins,” Publicis noted in its earnings statement, adding,
“India and Australia both recorded dynamic organic growth in the first quarter.”
Overall, Publicis reported organic growth of 2.8% on a worldwide basis.