Do the first large marketing M&A moves of 2025 indicate a trend for the year? [Video]

From Getty acquiring Shutterstock to Bauer buying Clear Channel and Publicis bringing together Leo Burnett Global and Publicis Worldwide, it’s been a busy start to the year for M&A. Green Square’s Tony Walford tells us what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.

What a start to 2025! Trump back in, economic and political turmoil in the UK, France and Germany and the Middle East (but hopefully now resolved) and Russia-Ukraine continuing to present challenges, albeit Trump reckons he can fix the latter in a stroke. Given this background, it’s understandable to anticipate a slowdown in investment and M&A whilst people wait to see what the US administration will bring and also how the UK economy pans out.