Leo Burnett USA axes 20 staff to improve finances

Staff,, brandrepublic.com, Friday, 07 November 2003, 8:40am,

NEW YORK - Leo Burnett USA is to lay off 20 people, representing 2% of its workforce, as it looks at improving its financial situation following the loss of clients Delta Air Lines and Polaroid.

In a statement, the agency, headed in the US by Linda Wolf, chief executive of Leo Burnett Worldwide, said: "Leo Burnett USA is making a staff adjustment impacting approximately 20 people. This decision reflects our anticipated creative and business needs in the current economic climate and is part of our overall plan to further enhance client relationships, improve top-line growth, stimulate new business and move the agency forward."

There have been several departures of senior staff at the agency in recent months, including Robert Brennan, who stepped down as president of Leo Burnett Worldwide in October, and Steve Gatfield, who left his role as chief operating officer.

In May this year, one of Leo Burnett's biggest clients, Delta Air Lines, announced that it was shifting all of its advertising out of the agency to take it in-house. Leo Burnett was further hit when Polaroid quit the agency, handing its global account to Euro RSCG Worldwide.

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This article was first published on brandrepublic.com