Ogilvy Singapore confirms layoffs

Multiple sources told Campaign Asia-Pacific the layoffs included multiple "senior" roles. Ogilvy confirmed that the layoffs took place but declined to offer specifics about the positions involved or the reasons.

“Several weeks ago we had to make the difficult decision to let a small number of our people go,” Fiona Gordon, group chairman for Ogilvy & Mather Singapore told Campaign Asia-Pacific. “These changes were made in response to the ebb and flow of our business and do not reflect any broader restructuring.”

Ogilvy & Mather employs more than 400 people in Singapore.

Gordon added that people affected were informed and the agency is helping them find new roles within the network.

Campaign Asia-Pacific couldn’t immediately ascertain names of senior staff affected or whether the move was on the back of a specific business loss.

One source commented that the layoffs are surprising considering the agency is still looking to hire people to service SingTel, which named Ogilvy & Mather Singapore its agency of record last October after a lengthy pitch process.