Mobil has admitted that its record-breaking acquisition deal with
fellow US oil giant Exxon, announced this week, could lead to PR job
losses.
Over 9,000 jobs will be lost worldwide if the acquisition of Mobil by
Exxon gets regulatory approval, and UK public relations and marketing
departments will be affected.
Mobil’s UK communications is led by PR head Catherine Cutts, who
oversees a team of eight and is responsible for Europe, Africa and the
former Soviet Union region. Exxon’s UK PR head Gordon Sawyer oversees a
team of 24.
Cutts refused to comment on the effect the proposed merger will have on
her team but a source confirmed that the anticipated job cuts could
affect the department. ’There will definitely be some overlap of the two
departments and mergers such as this one always result in inevitable job
losses,’ said a Mobil source.
Mobil retains Countrywide Porter Novelli to handle its environmental PR
in the UK on a project basis. It does not retain any other full service
PR agency.
On completion the new company’s name will be Exxon Mobil Corporation. It
will be headquartered in the US.
