Brass - 'No redundancies' but Cowing to leave
Leeds marketing agency Brass insists it has made no redundancies despite suggestions to the contrary - but managing partner Malcolm Cowing is leaving in January.
The redundancy rumours surfaced after it emerged that Persimmon Homes, one of Brass's biggest clients, is believed to be on the verge of taking its advertising account elsewhere.
However, when asked by The Drum an agency spokesman said "no one has been made redundant following the Persimmon review" and that "all our Persimmon staff are still here".
Brass's contract with Persimmon runs until the end of January 2011. The spokesman said they could not yet comment on what will happen to affected staff or whether TUPE will come into play when the contract ends.
"Once details of the new agency are confirmed to us, we will make a decision regarding our position on TUPE. Until that is resolved, we can’t comment on what may or may not happen to those people who are employed on the Persimmon account,” the spokesman said.
Brass could confirm that managing partner Malcolm Cowing, who has been at the agency formerly known as Brahm since 1989, will be leaving in January.
Chief executive John Morgan said: "Malcolm’s made a major contribution to our business over more than 20 years. He was instrumental in the development of PR at Brahm in our early years, and in its growth to become one of the biggest and best PR operations around.
"In recent years he has also taken the lead in developing our expertise in property and regeneration work, for which we now have a national, award-winning reputation, and has lent his skills and experience as a member of numerous business organisations across the region.
“In addition to that, Malcolm’s been a great colleague and friend to many of us here, and an inspiring mentor to dozens of young PR and marketing people making their way in our industry.
“Although his retirement from Brass is a couple of months away, when he does leave it will be with our very best wishes. Knowing Malcolm, however, I doubt very much he’ll be reaching for his pipe and slippers just yet!”