Omnicom Group, home to firms including Fleishman-Hillard, Ketchum, and Porter Novelli, reported a revenue increase of 23.6 percent for the first quarter of 2011. Net income was $201.9 million versus $163.4 million in Q1 2010.

Global revenue also increased 7.9 percent to $3.15 billion. Revenue totaled $2.92 billion for the first quarter of 2010. In the U.S., the increase was 3.8 percent to $1.65 billion versus about $1.6 billion year-over-year. Internationally, revenue increased 12.9 percent to nearly $1.5 billion. U.K. revenue increased 12.4 percent to $280 million.

PR contributed 9.1 percent to first quarter revenue, for a total of $286.4 million. That’s a year-over-year increase of 3.9 percent, with organic growth also rising 1.9 percent.

Firms that fall under the “specialty” category, including Cone in cause marketing and branding firm Interbrand, contributed $288.6 million to the revenue numbers, an 8.8 percent increase from Q1 2010 and an increase of 6.6 percent in the organic growth column.

Porter Novelli has unveiled a new logo and website retiring its previous 20-plus year-old look. The firm timed the introduction to coincide with the start of business in the firm’s Asia offices.

The firm enlisted Interbrand to help with the rebrand. PN’s clients include Hewlett-Packard, Procter & Gamble, Dow, and Timberland.

To no one’s surprise, BP has fallen off the list of Interbrand‘s “100 Best Global Brands.” While BP’s issue is a unique disaster, the 11th annual ranking saw a number of companies suffer because of the economic crisis. Toyota, at number 11, also took a hit due to this year’s recall.

Interbrand’s methodology for the ranking includes three key factors: financial performance, role of the brand in purchasing decision, and strength of the brand for future earnings.

At number one for the 11th straight year is Coca-Cola. Technology brands continue to have a strong showing with IBM at number two, Microsoft at three, and Google at number four. HP cracked the top 10 for the first time at number 10 and Apple came in at number 17.