COMvergence Certifies GroupM as World’s Leading Media Agency Group in 2021 Full Year Global Billings Report

GroupM retains #1 ranking with $61.6 billion in global billings and 30% market share  

Agency networks Mindshare and MediaCom take two of the top three agency rankings

GroupM continues to be ranked as the world’s leading media agency group, retaining the top spot in COMvergence’s 2021 Full Year Global Billings Report.  

As calculated by COMvergence, an independent and international research bureau measuring the performance of major global ad and media agencies, GroupM finished 2021 with $61.6 billion in global billings — an increase of 15% over 2020 — to retain 30% market share. Mindshare and MediaCom occupied two of the top three agency results, finishing the year second and third, respectively. 

“Our continued success in the marketplace is a testament to the hard work our colleagues around the world put in to help our clients reach their goals,” says Christian Juhl, GroupM’s Global CEO. “This report highlights our commitment to move our industry forward in the areas that are most meaningful to consumers, clients and partners in order to make advertising work better for people. I couldn’t be prouder of our teams for the work they continue to produce and I thank our clients for their faith in us to move their business forward.” 

Other findings included in COMvergence’s report include:

• APAC: GroupM once again topped the rankings with over $21 billion in billings, a growth of more than 20% over 2020. Impressively, Mindshare, Wavemaker and MediaCom took the top three network agency spots, respectively. 

• EMEA: GroupM continues to rank first with over $22 billion in billings, a growth over 2020 of more than 17%. MediaCom, Wavemaker and Mindshare each occupied a spot in the top five, finishing second, third and fifth respectively. 

• LATAM: GroupM finished second in the rankings with $966 million in billings, nearly 17% growth over 2020. MediaCom finished fourth in total annual billings for the region. 

• NA: GroupM North America rounded out an impressive 2021 by taking joint second place in the rankings with over $16 billion in billings, nearly 6% growth over 2020. Mindshare finished fourth in total annual billings for the year. 

“Our industry is constantly changing, and we’re excited to be at the forefront,” says Elizabeth McCune, GroupM’s Global Chief Growth Officer. “The last two years have been challenging for everybody, but our commitments to responsibility and innovation are helping us win business, retain clients and reach consumers in ways that matter.” 

GroupM also continues to lead the industry-wide push into digital advertising. On average, digital media billings represented 43% of media agency networks’ billings in 2021, according to COMvergence, an increase from 39% in 2020 and 36% in 2019. But the total share of digital billings at Essence equaled 64%, the highest among Big 6 media agency networks, and for all GroupM, digital accounted for 44% of total billings. 

For more information, visit https://comvergence.net.