NEW YORK: Just fewer than two dozen employees at EVP, SVP and VP levels at Weber Shandwick will be out of a job this week, according to a source familiar with the internal cuts.
“Weber Shandwick made a small reduction to reshape our teams for the needs of our business today and the opportunities in front of us,” a spokesperson for the agency confirmed via email.
The agency has about 4,800 employees globally, 2,950 in the U.S., according to the PRWeek Agency Business Report 2022.
Representatives for Weber Shandwick would not confirm the number of layoffs included in the reduction.
Glenn Eden, an EVP who was based in Weber's Chicago office, announced via LinkedIn his last day with the agency Tuesday following 23 years with the firm. Eden stated in his post that he’ll be taking some time to recharge. He did not respond to comment confirming if his departure was a result of internal layoffs.
Sarah Baumann, an SVP who was also based in Weber’s Chicago office, announced on LinkedIn Wednesday her departure from the agency following a 16 year tenure. She too will be "taking a breath" before working through what’s next. Baumann could not be reached for comment confirming if her departure was a result of internal layoffs.
Another Chicago-based EVP, Katie Bestenlehner, announced in a LinkedIn post that she was laid off from her role at the firm last week, writing she is open and searching for work.
Boston-based SVP of social and digital Shaun Campos announced he too was “impacted by corporate restructuring to senior leadership positions across offices” in a LinkedIn post Wednesday, after more than ten years with the company.
Weber Shandwick has undergone a series of leadership hires and promotions early this year across its regional and global offices. The agency named three new regional heads of corporate affairs in North America, EMEA and APAC.
In the U.S., Weber named former Edelman U.S. COO Jim O’Leary as CEO of North America. Additionally, the firm made three new North America appointments, named a new chief DE&I officer targeting regional efforts and a new GM of its Baltimore office.
In the U.K., Weber made two corporate enterprise hires, additionally appointing promotions of a new MD of London consumer and EVP of earned media within the U.K.
In 2021, Weber Shandwick posted a revenue increase of 5% globally to $872 million and a revenue jump of 5% in the U.S. to $520 million, according to the Agency Business Report 2022.
Editor's note: This story was updated on March 1 with information about Eden, Baumann, Campos and Bestenlehner's exits. It was also updated to correct the number of layoffs at the firm.
