PARIS, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Advertising agency Havas achieved 5.5 percent organic sales growth in the second quarterdriven by North America, outpacing larger rivals such as WPP and Publicis.
Chief Executive Yannick Bollore told Reuters on Thursday thecompany was on course to reach its goal of 5 percent organicsales growth this year despite recent volatility on world stockmarkets and concerns about China's economic slowdown.
"I remain confident in the long-term prospects for theglobal economy, and for Havas this year will continue to be agood one," said Bollore.
"The first-half results were better than we had hoped."
The world's sixth-largest advertising company by sales,majority owned by French tycoon Vincent Bollore's eponymousgroup, posted second-quarter revenue of 565 millioneuros ($635 million).
For the first half, operating profit rose 22 percent to 128million euros, lifting the operating margin to 12.3 percent from12 percent a year earlier.($1 = 0.8899 euros) (Reporting by Leila Abboud; Editing by Laurence Frost)