Times Square, New York Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Climate Power Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment In a deal that will reshape the advertising and communications industry, Omnicom has completed its $13 billion deal for Interpublic, creating a marketing behemoth that will seek to leverage its scale and generative artificial intelligence to reimagine the sector. "This is a defining moment for our company and our industry," said John Wren, chairman and CEO of Omnicom, in a statement Wednesday. "With the completion of the deal, Omnicom is setting a new standard for modern marketing and sales leadership - creating stronger brands, delivering superior business outcomes, and driving sustainable growth. We're excited about this next chapter. I want to thank our people, clients, and shareholders for the trust they have placed in us." Related Stories Business CAA Acquires Brand Licensing Agency Beanstalk Business Hollywood's Cheesiest New Star? Parmigiano Reggiano Reportedly Signed By UTA for Film and TV Placement Omnicom and IPG first announced their deal a year ago, ultimately securing FTC approval after agreeing to a consent decree focused on "collusion" between the companies, with a particular focus on the companies colluding to withhold ad dollars from media outlets or social platforms based on their political views or ideology. The EU signed off on the deal earlier this month, clearing the way for it to close. Of course, the political undertones are nothing compared to the threat and opportunity posed by AI. The combined company will be "poised to accelerate innovation and harness the significant opportunities created by new technologies in this era of exponential change," Wren said when announcing the deal. Indeed, AI is set to disrupt almost every part of the ad business, from ideation and creation to deployment and targeting. The combined company will also have more scale as it negotiates with media companies and entertainment giants, who are both clients and partners. The combined company will also be a PR power player, with firms like Weber Shandwick, Golin, Fleishman Hillard, Ketchum, and Porter Novelli. IPG recently disbanded R&CPMK, with most of its staff, including CEO Cindi Berger, joining Michael Nyman's Acceleration Community of Companies. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up THR, Esq OpenAI Loses Key Discovery Battle as It Cedes Ground to Authors in AI Lawsuits Paramount+ Reach vs. Profits: Streaming Black Friday Deals Suggest Entertainment Giants Still Split on Strategy YouTube TV TelevisaUnivision Channels Return to YouTube TV as Companies Strike Deal Blue Ant Media Blue Ant Media to Buy Thunderbird Entertainment in $63 Million Deal WME Group Trio of Top CAA Film Agents Defecting to WME Warner Bros. Discovery On to the Next Round: Warner Bros. Discovery Sets New Bidding Deadline Amid Sale Talks THR, Esq OpenAI Loses Key Discovery Battle as It Cedes Ground to Authors in AI Lawsuits Paramount+ Reach vs. Profits: Streaming Black Friday Deals Suggest Entertainment Giants Still Split on Strategy YouTube TV TelevisaUnivision Channels Return to YouTube TV as Companies Strike Deal Blue Ant Media Blue Ant Media to Buy Thunderbird Entertainment in $63 Million Deal WME Group Trio of Top CAA Film Agents Defecting to WME Warner Bros. Discovery On to the Next Round: Warner Bros. Discovery Sets New Bidding Deadline Amid Sale Talks