ATLANTA BaylessCronin has effectively ceased operations, sources said.
The 5-year-old shop had operated as a unit of New York's Merkley Newman Harty & Partners, an Omnicom agency. Sources said BaylessCronin in Atlanta would close Jan. 30.
At its height in 2000, the agency employed 60 people and reported billings of $60 million. Accounts included Hi-Fi Buys, the Atlanta Hawks, Johnston & Murphy, BellSouth, Church's Chicken and, most recently, assignments for the Discovery Channel.
One source said BaylessCronin's six remaining staffers, including CFO Michael Deaderick, would be retained by the Grizzard Agency, an Atlanta direct mail shop owned by Omnicom. But Chip Grizzard, president, said that while there had been discussions of possibly transferring one account to his office, he did not know that any employees would be joining him.
Agency executives could not be reached for comment. Omnicom officials did not return calls.