Big shock as Johnson moves business out of DraftFCB after 60 years
"It's difficult to understand this decision" says chief of US agency that employs 9200 people agency worldwide
The work in the US is being split between rivals Ogilvy & Mather and Energy BBDO, said the magazine AdAge.
DraftFCB is part of the Interpublic Group of companies.
DraftFCB CEO Laurence Boschetto, CEO of DraftFCB, said in a statement . "It’s difficult to understand this decision, but we obviously have no choice but to accept it.
“We wish our SCJ colleagues all over the world continued success as they build upon the very strong foundation that our two companies have collectively established.”
He did not say if there if there would be job cuts in DraftFCB's 9,200-person worldwide workforce. The company employes 180 people in London, increased by 60 just two months ago when Blue Barracuda and its staff of 60 were merged into DraftFCB
S. C. Johnson said in a statement, "It was a very difficult decision and we truly value the many contributions the DraftFCB team has made to the success of our business over a long-standing partnership. "
Half of the work, valued altogether at nearly $1 billion in billings, will go to EnergyBBDO and the other half to Ogilvy & Mather, it is reported.
“Every assignment that DraftFCB had domestically and internationally will be gone,” one of the executives with knowledge of the move told Crain's Chicago Business, who were first with the news.
S. C. Johnson said BBDO would handle the Pest Control and Home Storage businesses , with Ogilvy & Mather working on Home Fragrance and Home Cleaning. The two agencies will run the accounts from their Chicago offices,
S. C. Johnson announced the global review in December. DraftFCB made its final pitch on June 1.