MPG cuts 15% of staff in the US after series of account losses

LONDON – The Havas-owned Media Planning Group has cut 60 staff in the North America in response to its recent loss of the $500m (£260.2m) Volkswagen and $300m Intel media planning and buying accounts.

MPG has 14 offices across the US and Canada and the cuts represent 15% of its 409-strong workforce. No offices are to close.

The agency pulled out of the Intel review in January saying that it saw the loss as inevitable. Intel eventually awarded its account to Interpublic's McCann Worldgroup earlier this week.

After MPG gave up on Intel, it fought to keep Volkswagen on board, but saw the client sign with MediaCom at the end of January.

MPG is currently between CEOs as it waits until April 1 for Charlie Rutman to arrive after seven years with Carat USA. Its former CEO, Jim Rose, departed in November for Texas-based Mosaic Sales Solutions.

Rutman's task of stopping further client defections could be hampered by the uncertainty surrounding Havas' strategy for MPG.

Havas has been seeking a tie-up between MPG and one of its rivals. MPG is seen as being traditionally strong in Europe, but weak in the US. Havas was reportedly in talks with Interpublic Group, which owns Initiative Media and Universal McCann, before Christmas but no deal was signed.

However, there is the prospect of interference by the group's largest shareholder, corporate raider Vincent Bollore, who has not clarified to Havas chief executive Alain de Pouzilhac why he has been increasing his stake in the group and what he plans to do.

De Pouzilhac told French newspaper Les Echos in January: "It is complicated and delicate to conclude this type of alliance when the intentions of the main shareholder are unknown."

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .

Topics

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Market Reports.

Find out more

Enjoying ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s content?

 Get unlimited access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s premium content for your whole company with a corporate licence.

Upgrade access

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an alert now

Partner content