Omnicom PR agencies undergo layoffs, say outgoing staffers

NEW YORK: Omnicom PR Group agencies Porter Novelli, Ketchum and FleishmanHillard have undergone layoffs, according to LinkedIn posts from affected staffers. 

Employees from each of the holding company’s PR shops have shared news of internal layoffs on LinkedIn this month. Kevin Nelson said on LinkedIn that he was laid off from his job as a Porter Novelli account supervisor due to “business downsizing.” Nelson, who is based in Seattle, Washington, and worked on campaigns for clients including T-Mobile, Penske Trucking and Almond Board of California, according to his LinkedIn profile, shared he was part of layoffs that affected “some talented employees.”

Porter Novelli is still the AOR for Penske Transportation Solutions and T-Mobile, the companies confirmed to PRWeek. Porter Novelli was also listed as the agency contact for the Almond Board of California as of last month.

Meanwhile, Ray Zandi said he was laid off from his position as assistant account executive at FleishmanHillard as part of a “workforce reduction.” Anna Smith, a former senior account executive at FleishmanHillard based in Portland, Oregon, said she was also “impacted by layoffs” at the agency.

The news of layoffs comes after Omnicom reported its Q2 results last week. Omnicom Group’s PR firms posted an organic revenue increase of 0.9% in Q2 to $418.2 million, a subtle increase following an organic revenue decrease of 1.1% in Q1. Firms within OPRG include Porter Novelli, FleishmanHillard, Ketchum and MMC. 

About 30 staffers at Ketchum have been let go as a result of recent layoffs which have allegedly targeted individuals in HR and finance, according to sources. Madeline Petschow, a former account supervisor in Ketchum’s technology practice, confirmed layoffs on LinkedIn in a post last week.

Representatives from Omnicom, Porter Novelli, Ketchum and FleishmanHillard did not respond to repeated requests for comment regarding the number of staff affected or the reason for the cross-agency reductions. 

Last year, Ketchum laid off more than 20 employees in November, one month after its partnership with Fidelity Investments ended. In May, former president of global strategy Michael O’Brien departed the agency after more than 15 years to join 5W Public Relations as global CEO. 

Ketchum reported a revenue increase of 2% to $609 million globally and $378 million in the U.S. in 2023, according to PRWeek’s 2024 Agency Business Report.

Porter Novelli’s former CEO David Bentley stepped down in May 2023 after two years in the role, with Jillian Janaczek taking over in late August. Janaczek joined Porter following a 25 year tenure at BCW, most recently as president of BCW New York.

The agency added Sakima Johnson as its chief people officer in April of this year. 

Porter reported a 7% revenue increase to $211 million globally and $160 million in the U.S. in 2023, according to PRWeek’s 2024 Agency Business Report. 

FleishmanHillard reported flat revenue at $745 million globally and $510 million in the U.S. in 2023, according to PRWeek’s 2024 Agency Business Report. The firm named Scott Radcliffe its first global director of cybersecurity in May.