The recent redundancies at GroupM and Omnicom are another example of the significant changes underway in our industry. While these moves reflect a broader shift rather than a permanent contraction, it’s important to acknowledge the real human impact and the number of talented individuals and teams affected.

What we’re witnessing is not the end of the sector, but a period of reinvention. The traditional agency model is being reshaped into something leaner and more adaptable, aligned with where value is increasingly found: strategic insight, creative differentiation, and technology-enabled efficiency.

Still, we can’t simply frame these job losses as routine restructuring. They reflect a genuine decline in demand for certain legacy services, particularly within the middle layers of large networks that have struggled to evolve quickly enough.

Looking ahead, the holding companies now face a pivotal challenge - and an opportunity. By reinvesting in high-impact talent and modern capabilities such as data literacy, integrated creativity, and entrepreneurial leadership, there is a path to renewed strength and relevance. Those who embrace this shift will be well positioned to thrive. Those who focus solely on cuts without addressing the deeper need for transformation may continue to contract.