DDB Chicago Cuts Almost 5 Percent of Staff

CHICAGO–DDB Chicago on Monday laid off 37 employees, just less than 5 percent of its staff of 750, an agency representative confirmed.

The layoffs, which were across all disciplines, came a month after the shop lost about $50 million in billings with the departure of Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack, and a spending freeze by Van Kampen Investments.

Last year DDB Chicago laid off a total of about 43 people. Losses last year included General Mills and Energizers e2 accounts, together worth about $170 million in billings.