Interpublic Group (IPG) cut its global headcount by 2,400 employees in the first six months of 2025, marking a 4.5 percent drop as the company streamlines operations ahead of its planned takeover by Omnicom.

Details of the Job Cuts

The company’s latest filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that IPG removed 1,500 positions between January and March, followed by another 900 by the end of June. The downsizing affected staff across executive, regional, and account management functions, alongside administrative, creative, and media production teams. While IPG confirmed the figures when contacted, the group declined to elaborate further.

Part of a Broader Restructuring

This latest wave of reductions forms part of a broader restructuring strategy that CEO Philippe Krakowsky outlined during an investor call on 12 February. Krakowsky projected that the changes would yield around $250 million in savings this year, separate from the $750 million in efficiencies expected from the merger with Omnicom.

Previous Workforce Adjustments

In 2024, the group had already undergone a significant workforce adjustment, shedding 4,100 roles to close the year with 53,300 employees. That earlier decline partly stemmed from agency divestments, including the sales of Hill Holliday and Deutsch New York. The United States and the United Kingdom, as IPG’s largest markets, bore the brunt of those losses.

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Updated Headcount Figures

By June 2025, official records showed IPG employing 51,300 people. However, an additional 400 positions, notified but not yet removed from payroll at that time, brought the true headcount closer to 50,900. Omnicom, led by CEO John Wren, has not provided fresh staffing numbers since its 2024 year-end tally of 74,900 employees, following its own 3,000-role reduction last year.

Awaiting Regulatory Decision

Both firms now await the outcome of the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s review of the acquisition. The CMA launched its first-phase investigation in May to determine whether the deal could significantly weaken competition in the advertising sector. A decision on whether the inquiry will proceed to a deeper probe is expected by 13 August.