Serious minded

Publicis Groupe's fourth-quarter growth was 1.1%, compared with 4.4% in the same period the previous year. Revenue rose 5.5% to $1.8 billion, reports MediaBuyerPlanner.

Net income slipped 1.1% to $585 million for all of 2008, riding flat revenue of $6.1 billion. The company managed to meet its full-year target of 3.8% growth in organic revenue. Organic growth was 1.8% in North America, 2.8% in Latin America and 36.7% in Africa and the Middle East. It slipped 1.8% in Europe and 1.1% in the Asia-Pacific region.

CEO Maurice Levy of Publicis said that while the slowing growth reflects the decline of the economy in various sectors, and in various regions around the world, high growth continues in the media and digital businesses, and in many emerging economies.

Still, he warned, the company is entering 2009 "serious minded." "This is the year to win market share and consolidate our margins," he stated somberly. Levy expects global advertising as a whole to drop between 2% and 3% in 2009 (via CNNMoney).

Publicis is on track to make 25% of total revenues from online by 2012, the company said. In 2008, it grew its digital business to 19% of total revenues, up from 15% last year.

Midway through 2008 Publicis introduced ViviKi, a unit that combines all its digital efforts.

But while the sun rose over digital network consolidation, it set elsewhere: Honeyshed, an online shopping venture backed by Publicis and headed by Droga5, called it quits in early February. The site launched in 2007.