FCB Chicago has laid off approximately 9% of its staff after losing the Pfizer creative account. The office, which employs over 800 people.
The layoffs follow Pfizer’s abrupt shift in its creative brand duties to Publicis, less than a year after IPG had been named Pfizer’s lead creative partner. Publicis, which had already been Pfizer’s “integrated global engine,” worked on the pharmaceutical giant’s 2024 Super Bowl ad, showcasing Pfizer’s 175 years of commitment to science.
According to AdAge, a spokesperson for the Interpublic Group of Cos. (IPG) agency stated, “As a result of a recent decision impacting creative assignments, we have had to make some changes to align better with client work. This was a tough decision and equates to approximately 9% of our people in Chicago. Our focus now is on supporting everyone through this transition and winning new business to replace the lost revenue.”
FCB Chicago continues to serve clients such as Clorox, Kimberly-Clark, and Cox Communications. The agency also recently secured creative work from Kenvue, though that account is managed from FCB’s New York office.
The agency is now focused on navigating this transition and securing new business opportunities to offset the revenue loss from the Pfizer account.
In 2001, FCB Chicago was hit hard when the Pepsico-owned Quaker Oats account left the agency to form its agency, Element 79 under the Omnicom umbrella. The agency experienced four rounds of layoffs shrinking its size substantially. A Creative Director at the time, told others at an aftermath meeting, “When you belong to a holding company it is like dealing with the mob. No matter how well or badly you do, they get their cut.” Sobering but true.
Reel Chicago sends our thoughts to this proud Chicago agency.
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