Interpublic Group of Companies
American advertising and marketing services holding company that became part of Omnicom in 2025.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Interpublic Group of Companies, commonly known as IPG, was an American advertising, marketing and communications holding company headquartered in New York City. Its corporate history began in 1930, when H.K. McCann Co. and Erickson Co. combined to form McCann-Erickson. The business was reorganized in 1960 under a new holding-company structure, and in January 1961 the holding company adopted the Interpublic Group name. This model allowed multiple advertising, media, public-relations, branding, healthcare and specialist agencies to operate within a coordinated corporate group while retaining distinct market identities. IPG developed from a traditional advertising company into a diversified global marketing-services network. Its principal agency networks included McCann Worldgroup, Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB), and MullenLowe Group. The company also operated IPG Mediabrands, a media planning, buying, data and marketing-technology organization, and Marketing Specialists, a collection of public-relations, experiential, branding, sports, healthcare and communications agencies. Independent agencies such as R/GA, Deutsch, The Martin Agency, Campbell Ewald and Carmichael Lynch were also associated with the group at various points. This portfolio gave IPG capabilities spanning creative advertising, media investment, digital marketing, customer relationship management, public relations, healthcare communications, brand design, entertainment marketing and live brand experiences. A major stage in IPG's expansion came through acquisitions and network consolidation. It acquired Deutsch in 2000, bought True North Communications in 2001, and thereby gained control of Foote Cone & Belding. It later created or expanded specialist platforms for media, search, data and performance marketing. McCann-Erickson World Group was renamed McCann Worldgroup in 2004. Draftfcb was rebranded FCB in 2014, while the merger of Mullen and Lowe and Partners produced MullenLowe Group in 2015. In 2018, IPG agreed to acquire Acxiom's Marketing Solutions business for approximately $2.3 billion, strengthening its data-driven marketing capabilities. The company also experienced a difficult period involving accounting problems, earnings restatements, shareholder litigation and the disposal of numerous underperforming international businesses. These events led to management changes, restructuring and a sharper focus on profitable networks and integrated services. IPG continued to serve multinational clients in consumer goods, technology, healthcare, finance, media, retail and energy, although it declined to disclose its complete client list when questioned by Reuters in 2020. Philippe Krakowsky became chief executive officer on January 1, 2021, succeeding Michael I. Roth. In December 2024, reports indicated that IPG and Omnicom were in advanced merger discussions. The transaction was completed on November 26, 2025. Omnicom retained its name and stock symbol, and IPG's operations were subsequently folded into the combined organization. As a result, IPG ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded advertising holding company.
History
IPG's roots lie in the early twentieth-century American advertising industry. H.K. McCann Co., established in 1911, and Erickson Co., established in 1902, merged in New York City on October 2, 1930. The resulting McCann-Erickson organization was already one of the industry's largest agencies at its creation. For several decades it operated primarily as an advertising agency, but the changing structure of international marketing encouraged a more formal holding-company model. In 1960, McCann was reorganized into four operating units covering domestic advertising, international operations, McCann-Marschalk and affiliated communications businesses. In January 1961, the new holding company adopted the name Interpublic Group, with McCann-Erickson continuing as a principal subsidiary. This structure was an early example of a marketing-services management company overseeing distinct agency businesses. In the late 1970s, as major advertisers increasingly sought unified international strategies, McCann-Erickson combined its domestic and international branches into a worldwide agency under IPG. In 1997, the McCann-Erickson World Group was created to bring several IPG businesses into a broader global marketing organization. IPG expanded through acquisitions and network development in the 2000s. In December 2000 it acquired Deutsch, a prominent independent agency, while preserving its autonomy within the holding company. In 2001, IPG acquired True North Communications, bringing Foote, Cone & Belding into the group. McCann-Erickson World Group was renamed McCann Worldgroup in 2004. During the same period, the company faced significant accounting problems. Shareholder lawsuits followed accounting irregularities and financial restatements, and IPG agreed to a $115 million settlement in 2003. In 2005 and 2006, it announced additional restatements involving revenue, acquisitions and lease accounting. IPG also disposed of dozens of businesses and exited a number of loss-making international affiliates as it attempted to simplify its portfolio. The group subsequently invested in digital marketing, media and performance services. It agreed to acquire Reprise Media in 2007 and created Mediabrands in 2008 as a dedicated media planning and buying organization. Draftfcb, itself created through the combination of Draft Worldwide and FCB Worldwide, returned to the FCB name in 2014. MullenLowe Group was established through the combination of Mullen and Lowe and Partners, creating another global creative and communications network. In 2018, IPG expanded its data-marketing capabilities by agreeing to purchase Acxiom's Marketing Solutions business for approximately $2.3 billion. By the 2020s, IPG operated as a portfolio of global networks and specialist agencies. Its principal groups covered creative advertising, media investment, marketing technology, public relations, brand experience, healthcare, sports and entertainment, digital transformation and customer marketing. The company handled accounts for major multinational clients, including oil companies, but did not publicly disclose its full client roster when asked by Reuters in 2020. Michael I. Roth was succeeded by Philippe Krakowsky as chief executive officer on January 1, 2021. In December 2024, Omnicom and IPG were reported to be in advanced merger discussions. The deal was completed on November 26, 2025. The combined organization retained the Omnicom name and ticker, and IPG's operations were subsequently integrated into Omnicom. This ended IPG's existence as an independent listed advertising holding company and closed a corporate history that had begun with the 1930 McCann-Erickson merger.
- 2025
IPG is acquired by Omnicom
[1]Omnicom completes the acquisition on November 26, after which IPG's activities are integrated into Omnicom.
- 2021
Krakowsky becomes chief executive
[1]Philippe Krakowsky succeeds Michael I. Roth as CEO.
- 2018
Acxiom Marketing Solutions agreement
[1]IPG agrees to acquire Acxiom's Marketing Solutions business for approximately $2.3 billion.
- 2016
MullenLowe Group formed
[1]Mullen and Lowe and Partners combine to create MullenLowe Group.
- 2014
Draftfcb becomes FCB
[1]The international creative network adopts the FCB name.
- 2008
Mediabrands established
[1]IPG creates a dedicated media planning and buying platform.
- 2004
McCann Worldgroup name introduced
[1]McCann-Erickson World Group is renamed McCann Worldgroup.
- 2001
True North Communications acquired
[1]The acquisition brings Foote, Cone & Belding into IPG's agency portfolio.
- 2000
Deutsch joins IPG
[1]IPG acquires Deutsch as an autonomous agency unit.
- 1997
McCann World Group is created
[1]Several IPG operations are brought together in the McCann-Erickson World Group.
Products and positioning
A global, multi-network marketing-services holding company combining creative agencies, media investment, data and technology, public relations, healthcare communications and specialist marketing capabilities.
Global creative and marketing network · 1997
McCann Worldgroup
IPG's McCann-centered global marketing organization combined advertising with digital, direct marketing, healthcare, experiential, entertainment, production and customer-relationship capabilities. Its associated agencies included McCann, MRM, McCann Health, Commonwealth//McCann, Momentum Worldwide, Craft and several regional and specialist operations.
Advertising and communications network
FCB
FCB was one of IPG's principal global creative networks. It originated from Foote, Cone & Belding and the Draftfcb combination, and offered brand strategy, advertising, digital communications and healthcare marketing through businesses including FCB Health and regional agencies.
Creative and media communications network · 2016
MullenLowe Group
MullenLowe Group was created by combining the US-based Mullen agency with Lowe and Partners. The network covered creative communications, public relations, media planning and buying, customer experience, digital marketing, CRM, shopper marketing and experiential work through units such as Mediahub and MullenLowe Profero.
Media and marketing technology · 2008
IPG Mediabrands
IPG Mediabrands served as IPG's media investment, planning, buying, intelligence and performance-marketing platform. Its portfolio included Initiative, UM, MAGNA, Kinesso, Matterkind, Orion, Media Experts and other specialist businesses covering programmatic advertising, search, social, data, barter and media analytics.
Specialist marketing services
Marketing Specialists
Marketing Specialists grouped agencies working in public relations, brand experience, healthcare communications, design, sports marketing, entertainment and strategic communications. Notable agencies associated with the group included Weber Shandwick, Golin, FutureBrand, Jack Morton Worldwide and Octagon Worldwide.
Data-driven marketing · 2018
Acxiom Marketing Solutions
Acxiom Marketing Solutions provided data, identity, audience and customer-marketing capabilities intended to support more targeted and measurable communications. IPG agreed to acquire this business in 2018 to complement its creative, media and marketing-technology operations.
Controversies
2006
Further restatement and accounting leadership change
The company reported a quarterly loss, revised several 2005 figures and disclosed the departure of its controller and chief accounting officer.
2005
Multi-year earnings restatement
IPG announced that it would restate earnings from 2000 through 2004 because of problems in accounting for revenue, acquisitions and lease expenses.
2003
Accounting irregularities and shareholder settlement
Shareholders sued IPG after accounting irregularities led to restatements and a decline in the company's stock. IPG agreed to a $115 million class-action settlement.
Brand decisions
2025
Combine with OmnicomM&ABackground
IPG and Omnicom pursued a combination amid increasing scale, technology and global-network pressures in advertising services.
Action taken
Omnicom completed its acquisition of IPG on November 26, 2025.
Aftermath
IPG's operations were folded into Omnicom and IPG ceased to operate as an independent listed company.
2018
Acquire Acxiom Marketing SolutionsM&ABackground
IPG sought to strengthen its data-driven marketing and customer-identity capabilities.
Action taken
IPG agreed to acquire Acxiom's Marketing Solutions business.
Aftermath
The deal broadened IPG's capabilities in data, audience management and targeted marketing.
Purchase price. $2.3 billion (2018 announced transaction)
2008
Create MediabrandsStrategyBackground
Clients were increasingly separating media investment from traditional creative advertising and demanding specialized measurement and buying capabilities.
Action taken
IPG established Mediabrands as a dedicated media planning and buying group.
Aftermath
The platform became the basis for IPG's later media, data and marketing-technology operations.
1961
Establish a marketing-services holding companyStrategyBackground
The advertising business was being reorganized into domestic, international and affiliated communications units.
Action taken
IPG created a holding-company structure and placed McCann-Erickson beneath it.
Aftermath
The model became the foundation for IPG's later multi-agency portfolio.
Recent events
Interpublic Group reports FY2020 financial results[2]
Reported:
Interpublic Group (IPG) released its FY2020 and fourth-quarter 2020 financial results. Full-year net revenue was US$8.06 billion, down from US$8.63 billion in 2019, with an organic net revenue decrease of 4.8%.
MullenLowe Philippines rebrands as MullenLowe Treyna[3]
Reported:
MullenLowe Philippines rebranded as MullenLowe Treyna following a buyout by local shareholders of The Interpublic Group of Companies’ holdings in Treyna Holdings, the holding company of MullenLowe Philippines. IPG retained a significant direct investment in the rebranded agency.
Weber Shandwick Dublin management buyout completed[4]
Reported:
A management buyout of Weber Shandwick Dublin from Interpublic Group was completed by managing director Siobhan Molloy for an undisclosed sum. The agency will operate independently while remaining a Weber Shandwick partner in Ireland.
Interpublic Group withdraws 2020 financial target[5]
Reported:
Interpublic Group withdrew its 2020 full-year financial target amid economic uncertainty related to COVID-19’s impact.
Interpublic forms Kinesso[6]
Interpublic Group formed Kinesso, a company developing software and products intended to help marketers increase the impact of traditional and addressable media through better use of data. Kinesso was comprised of Cadreon and Interpublic's data and technology group and was operational in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Australia.
Sources6 sources
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