More Layoffs at BBDO Detroit
BBDO Detroit is laying off more staff. The cuts come after 145 people were let go there about three months ago, and 189 BBDO staffers in North America were laid off in December. AgencySpy reports (variously) that the layoffs are 20-100 people.
BNET understands that the actual count is around one third of the 145 number from last year — i.e. 50 or so. The move, while sad, is not entirely unexpected. BNET noted that BBDO was most likely to be hardest hit of all the agencies with car clients; BBDO handles most of Chrysler, which is closing some brands.
Omnicom, its corporate parent, is already cashflow negative and has suffered a reduction working capital.
The latest round of layoffs in Detroit run across the agency’s services, across disciplines, BNET hears. The cuts have been made with the hope that they will not damage the ability of the shop to continue to deliver its work.
- See BNET’s previous coverage of BBDO
- Clients Are Delaying Payments to Agencies
- Omnicom, Publicis Worst Hit in Auto Brand Axings
- BBDO Lays Off Another 20; Hill Holiday Cuts 10
- Omnicom Lays Off 3,500; Are More Layoffs on the Way?
- BBDO Must Wean Itself From Branding Addiction in 2009
- Advertising’s Black Thursday: Layoffs, Spend Cuts, Hiring Freezes and Client Collapses Bedevil the Biz
Jim Edwards, a former managing editor of Adweek, has covered drug marketing at Brandweek for four years, and is a former Knight-Bagehot fellow at Columbia University's business and journalism schools. Follow him on Twitter or send him an email.
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