Bezier axes Poulters in restructure

Poulters, the Leeds-based agency, is being closed down by parent company Bezier as part of a restructure. It is understood that 42 people may be made redundant.

Bezier, which acquired the agency in 2006, says that the closure is “regrettable” but is part of move to concentrate on its retail marketing offering and a shift away from the broader communications services offered by Poulters.

It denies that the recent loss of the £2m William Hill advertising account was instrumental in the decision to wind the 37-year-old agency down. Its other clients include consumer electronics brand Miele, Manchester United and Thresher.

Bezier is now expected to structure the company around Coutts Retail Communications (CRC), a London-based marketing agency, that it acquired in March.

Bezier chief executive, Mark Shaw says it was the acquisition of CRC that prompted a review of the company’s creative divisions and due to the number of agencies Bezier had operating in the same market space, a restructure was necessary.