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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryAgency & IndustryAgency Holding Company

Agency & Industry

Agency Holding Company

A parent group owning many agency brands, such as WPP, Publicis Groupe, Omnicom or Dentsu.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

An agency holding company is a parent group that owns many agency brands, such as WPP, Publicis Groupe, Omnicom or Dentsu. Holding companies combine creative, media, PR, data and specialist agencies, giving large clients scale, buying power and integrated services. Critics point to complexity, internal competition and conflicts, which independent agencies often position against.