Businessweek

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. operates as an advertising and marketing service company. The company specializes in consumer advertising, digital marketing, communications planning and media buying, public relations, and specialized communications disciplines. The company’s agencies create customized marketing programs for clients that range in scale from large global marketers to regional and local clients. Its solutions vary from project-based activity involving one agency to long-term, fully integrated campaigns created by multiple IPG agencies working together. Segments The company operates in two segments, Integrated Agency Networks (IAN) and CMG. IAN comprises McCann, Draftfcb, Lowe, Mediabrands and domestic integrated agencies. CMG comprises specialist marketing services offerings. Brands The company has three global networks, McCann Worldgroup (McCann), Draftfcb, and Lo the company & Partners (Lowe), that provide integrated, large-scale advertising and marketing solutions for clients, and three global media services companies, UM, Initiative and Brand Programming Network (BPN), operating under the IPG Mediabrands umbrella. McCann Worldgroup is a marketing solutions network, comprised of a collaborative group of agencies that emphasize creativity and performance. It operates 180 offices in approximately 100 countries. McCann Erickson is an advertising agency network; MRM conducts digital marketing and relationship management; Momentum oversees event marketing and promotion; McCann Health directs professional and consumer healthcare communications; and Craft Worldwide is the network's global adaptation and production arm. UM (media management), Weber Shandwick (public relations), and FutureBrand (brand consulting) align with McCann Worldgroup to deliver fully integrated solutions to its clients. Draftfcb is an agency model for clients seeking creative and accountable marketing programs delivered in a media-neutral manner under a unified, integrated business. Lo the company is a creative agency that operates in the worldwide markets. IPG Mediabrands delivers on the scale and breadth of its media capabilities, making investment decisions client marketing budgets. Specialist brands within IPG Mediabrands focus on areas such as media innovation, the targeting and aggregation of audiences in the digital space, hyper-local marketing, media barter and a range of other capabilities. The company also has marketing specialists across a range of disciplines. Its public relations agencies such as Weber Shandwick and GolinHarris have expertise in various areas of communication management. Jack Morton is a global brand experience agency and FutureBrand is a brand consultancy. Octagon is a sports, entertainment and lifestyle marketing agency. The company’s digital specialist agencies include R/GA and HUGE. Its premier healthcare communications specialists reside within its three global brands, McCann, Draftfcb and Lowe. The company’s domestic integrated independent agencies include agency brands, including Campbell-Ewald, Carmichael Lynch, Hill Holliday, The Martin Agency and Mullen. The marketing programs created by these agencies incorporate all media channels, customer relationship management (CRM), public relations, and other marketing activities. Customers The company’s major customers include General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Unilever, and Verizon. History The company was founded in 1902. It was formerly known as McCann-Erickson Incorporated and changed its name to The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. in 1961.