NEW YORK — PR firms from Interpublic Group's CMG unit, which include Weber Shandwick and Golin, reported mid-single-digit growth for the first quarter of this year.

The overall CMG unit, which also includes other specialist marketing firms, grew by 3.2% on an organic basis for the quarter, to $340.4m.

The growth from Weber Shandwick and Golin continues their market-leading performance among publicly-held firms.

Weber Shandwick CEO Andy Polansky told the Holmes Report that Weber Shandwick grew in the "high single-digits" in 1Q 2016, led by double-digit growth in 17 markets, including New York, Chicago, Washington DC, India and Hong Kong.

Polansky said he was "generally optimistic about the tone of the business", but added that there is "some macro-uncertainty about markets like China and Brazil and some markets in Europe."

Polansky pointed to Weber Shandwick's MediaCo content unit as a specific growth driver, along with consumer, healthcare (where it recently ReviveHealth) and corporate. Digital, he added, acccounted for 30% of Weber Shandwick's growth.

There was also praise for Weber Shandwick and Golin from Interpublic CEO Michael Roth on this morning's earnings call. "CMG agencies continued its strong performance, led by public relations," said Roth. "Weber Shandwick and Golin consistently take market share and we added to their capabilities with acquisitions during Q1 – Revive Health will build on Weber’s outstanding healthcare practice and Brooklyn Brothers will take Golin’s digital content production to a new level of creativity."




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