BBDO, DDB Cut Staff

CHICAGO–Citing recent account losses, Omnicom shops BBDO and DDB here have laid off a total of 26 people, agency representatives said.

DDB Chicago laid off 19 employees, or about 3 percent of its staff, as a result of the loss of Qwest’s $100 million account, a representative said. New management at Denver-based Qwest moved the account to Foote, Cone & Belding early in August.
DDB had formed a new unit for Qwest, DDBQ. At the time of the account loss, agency president Ray Gillette said the unit’s 20 staffers were expected to be placed elsewhere at the shop.

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