South Africa, May 21 -- Across the global advertising landscape, holding companies continue to expand. Acquisitions accelerate, mergers form vast conglomerates, and structures are reshaped to chase efficiency. On the surface, it looks ambitious. But take a closer look, and a different story emerges. The larger the organisation, the greater the risk of losing touch with clients, culture, and the people they aim to serve.

We've seen bold moves across the industry. Omnicom's proposed merger with Interpublic, Publicis' steady growth and digital investment, WPP's restructuring of GroupM; each reflects deliberate strategy in a complex market. These are smart companies led by smart people. But even the most well-intentioned expansion brings pre...