Interbrand to lay off more as downturn bites

Branding agency Interbrand is making up to ten per cent of its workforce redundant. This is the second time in four months that the agency has had to cut staff numbers. In July Interbrand made ten per cent of its (then) 250 staff redundant.

Interbrand chief executive Rita Clifton says: “From a market point of view, there are obviously fewer mergers and acquisitions going on at the moment, and not as many new product and brand launches.

“Like most companies we are looking at new ways of structuring our business and working with our people more flexibly.”

She adds: “We are now in the process of discussing additional redundancies, voluntary or otherwise.”

The Omnicom-owned company is one of the most high-profile branding consultancies and has worked for clients such as Pepsi and the BBC.

Its Amsterdam office is currently working on Opel’s corporate identity, and financial services company AMP has commissioned it to rebrand its personal finance division, Interactive Investor International.

In July the company asked staff to consider taking pay cuts, sabbaticals and voluntary redundancy in a bid to reduce costs. In May it shut down its 3D design unit with the loss of three jobs.

Claydon Heeley Jones Mason, another Omnicom-owned agency, is making six people redundant after losing the direct marketing business for British Airways last month.

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