Largest Regional Players Make Staff Reductions

At least 150 staffers are being dismissed by some of the region’s largest agencies, which find themselves constrained by client budget cuts and the relative lack of new-business opportunities.

Last week signalled a a new low, industry watchers said, as Boston’sDigitas announced a round of layoffs, cutting about 120 employees, and crosstown shop Holland Mark confirmed that 12 people were cut in the agency’s third layoff in recent months.

Fidelity Investments’ parting Friday with Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, also Boston, will generate cuts as the agency winds down its relationship with one of its largest accounts, according to Hill, Holliday representative Eric Fehrnstrom.