Starcom MediaVest is No 1 Global Media Agency

The ranking has been arrived at after evaluating overall activity - including buying billings and specialized services - of all global media agencies in 62 countries.

Paris-based research agency RECMA (Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry) has named Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) as the No.1 global media network in its 2013 Global Billings Rankings Report for the fourth consecutive year.

In 2013, SMG's billings went up by 18.3 per cent, with an industry share of 12.5 per cent. In addition, SMG retained its position in the overall regional evaluations - including its top rank in North America - and was named the No.2 agency in the Asia-Pacific, MENA and Latin America.

"Leading RECMA's Global Rankings report is both an honour and a validation of our work at SMG," said Laura Desmond, Global CEO of SMG. "Everything we do, in partnership with the greatest brands in the world, is with an eye toward innovation.'"

SMG had its most celebrated year on record in 2013, with 525 product award recognitions. Award highlights included 15 Agency and Network of the Year awards, 24 Cannes Lions, 35 Festival of Media awards (across all galas) and two Effie Grand Prix.

SMG has already been awarded Media Network of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, along with being named the Most Effective Agency and Most Effective Agency Network by the Effie Index at the North American Effie Awards Gala in New York, where the Publicis Groupe also took the honours as Most Effective Holding Company.

SMG operates through three global agency brands: MediaVest, Starcom and Spark. With over 8,000 employees in 130 offices worldwide, SMG partners with the world's leading companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods, P&G, Samsung, and Walmart. It is part of the Publicis Groupe.