The phrase "widening the gap" has a certain confidence to it, the kind of thing one says when one is quite sure the other runners are not gaining.

Arthur Sadoun, the chairman and chief executive of Publicis Groupe, used precisely that language this week as the French holding company reported organic net revenue growth of 5 percent in the third quarter — a performance Mr. Sadoun attributed to what he called a "record new-business run." That run included, most notably, the capture of PepsiCo last month, though Mr. Sadoun declined to discuss the win in detail when asked.

Net revenue reached €3.81 billion, up from €3.53 billion in the same period a year earlier. The United States, which accounts for 59 percent of the group's global business, grew 4.5 percent organically. Europe managed 4.7 percent growth, though the United Kingdom was described as "largely flat" — a condition Mr. Sadoun explained by noting that gains in media and creative, up 7 percent, were offset by declines in technology work, which he attributed to events in the Middle East.

Latin America, as it often does in these reports, provided the most dramatic number: organic growth of 23.8 percent, to €134 million. (One suspects the regional executives will be dining well.)

Mr. Sadoun, who has grown comfortable in the role of industry frontrunner, offered a longer view. "This was our 25th quarter of outperformance," he said, before predicting that Publicis would outperform the market for the eighth consecutive year in 2027. He also spoke of "the reshaping of our industry around three global players," a formulation that suggests he has a particular three in mind.

Ramon Laguarta, the chairman and chief executive of PepsiCo, offered his own perspective at his company's earnings call, noting that the new partnership with Publicis would allow the snack-and-beverage giant to "invest with much more data, much more granularity."

The full-year guidance remains unchanged, which in the language of holding company earnings calls means: we are exactly where we said we would be, and we would like you to notice.

Original story published in campaignlive.com: "Publicis Groupe credits 'record new-business' run for 5% growth | Campaign US"