Troubled Mojo Melbourne makes new round of redundancies – now less than a dozen on staff
The trouble Melbourne office of Publicis Mojo has made a number of redundancies with one source saying the agency now has less than a dozen staffers – a far cry from its glory days three years ago when staff numbers were around 120.
Says Publicis Mojo chief executive, Joe Pollard (left), who came on board in June: “Publicis Mojo is committed to having a strong and vibrant agency in Melbourne.
“We are committed to the market and to our clients. To better meet clients needs and marketplace changes, we have undertaken a restructure of the Melbourne business.
“New digital capability in strategy and creative will be hired and production will be centralised out of Sydney and Brisbane. This re-organisation has led to some redundancies in the business.”
Current Melbourne managing partner Kellie Lennon’s role has now changed to general manager.
Mojo Melbourne’s rapid decline in staff numbers has been noticeable since the departure of former national ECD Darren Spiller (left) to the national ECD job at Fallon USA in June 2009. Spiller was soon joined at Fallon by his fellow Publicis Mojo, Melbourne team mates Christy Peacock to head of art in August 2009, Leon Wilson to creative group head in November 2009 and head of TV Corey Esse in February last year.
(Since then, Spiller has returned to Melbourne, taking the ECD role at DDB, Peacock joined Us, Sydney as ECD, and Wilson joined Energy BBDO Chicago as SVP group creative director on the Wrigley account. Esse is still at Fallon).
14 Comments
…and Pollard still sees the need for a CCO??? CCO of what?
TCP, Draft FCB, ????
cant wait for the christmas party.
She was hired to fire.
You cant blame Pollard. Blame the previous management that milked the place dry, sold out and then left her to clean up their mess. Appalling.
Melbourne only has two people to blame. The bullying tactics, destruction of good people was horrible to watch. The great people who were at Mojo in the golden years and held that place together were forced out one by one. Most left with large knife wounds in their backs. The phantom partners must be grinning like a cheshire cat.
The proof of poor management is evident by the lack of clients & NO new business in 3 years – when you can’t even win a little account like Gecko then you know something is just not right in the world. The sad thing is when the new structure was announced 2 top creatives resigned because there was no change in the management.
Good luck to Joe Pollard in a revival…… for the industry it needs to happen.
It is isn’t it?
Goes in 3’s… it’s a battle between Mojo and Sapient Nitro in Melbourne.
Only eight comments
Probably fair enough when
There’s only eight staff
Say it ain’t so, Joe.
Get rid of me
so here’s the inside goss: Joe was given a really bad bum steer from Maurice and the Paris Publicis boys. She was told the agency was “in great financial shape”. To her horror she discovered it was just the opposite. No one of her stature would join a sinking ship. Apparently she ain’t happy. I’d give her 12 months tops.
As table for 8 said, the Christmas party will be a cracker – one packet of Tim Tams (most people will get two each) & a six pack should see them done
And its not just the Melbourne office – others are in big trouble as well as their extended digital arms. Glory days over unless they restructure and partner quickly.