- Noreen O'Leary

MINNEAPOLIS Fallon has confirmed the layoff of 18 staffers, or 9 percent of its 200-person staff.
 
"Even with recent new business success, we have found it necessary to decrease staff by 18 people due to budget pullbacks in our existing client base," a Fallon representative said in a statement.
 
Fallon last week bid farewell to ecd Al Kelly, replacing him with Publicis Mojo's Darren Spiller, who spent the last 14 years of his career at the Melbourne, Australia, agency. He said the move to Fallon provides him with an "opportunity for an adventure and a challenge."
 
Spiller plans to begin his new job at the end of June. Dave Damman, a group ecd who returned to Fallon last November, will act as interim manager of the 35-member creative department until his arrival.

Since the recession took hold in earnest last fall, agencies of numerous sizes and specialties have made cuts. Just last week, Doner laid off 100 employees.