Cuts are focused on removing duplicate positions and trimming unnecessary management layers, Wren said. While he acknowledged that the layoffs impact “a lot of people’s lives, and we’re terribly sensitive to it,” he described the overall number as “a very low single-digit type of efficiency.”
Wren said affected employees will be notified as quickly as possible heading into December so as “not to leave people in a state of doubt.” Ruhanen said reductions began Oct. 1.
Adamski pushed back on framing the cuts as the defining story of the acquisition. “This is not about eradicating jobs. This is about building a company for the future,” he said.
Creative darlings
Omnicom chose BBDO, TBWA, and McCann as its global creative networks moving forward because of their clear positioning, established client relationships, and broad international footprints, Wren said.
“We’ve made the choice of which culture we want it to be, which brand we want it to be, and which methodology we’re putting our effort behind,” added Ruhanen.
Omnicom is also keeping many of its boutique and specialist agencies under the Omnicom Advertising Collective as well as IPG’s boutique creative agencies intact, including The Martin Agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Lucky Generals, Zimmerman, Mercury, GMR, Carmichael Lynch, GSD&M, Grabarz & Partners, Antoni, Lola, Africa, and Merkley & Partners.
Specialist agencies such as Alma (which was part of the DDB network), Dieste, TMA, Agency 720, and Platinum Rye Entertainment will also remain intact.
180 Global, Bright Red Agency, Dark Horses, and Serina Coyne will be sunset, and Campbell Ewald will fold into McCann.
