McCann Zurich is closed

Due to budget losses in Germany - among others Lufthansa and Beck's - there will be some restructuring within the McCann Germany Group, Katharina Lohse (pictured), CEO of McCann Erickson, told Werbewoche. Within the agency group, she said, it has been decided to close the four locations in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Zurich and to consolidate the entire German-speaking business in Düsseldorf and Berlin. While the McCann location in Geneva, from where the agency works for L'Oréal Switzerland, will continue to exist, the remaining agency clients were offered to be serviced from Düsseldorf and Berlin, respectively. As an alternative, Lohse proposed a move to the Draft FCB agency, which, like McCann, belongs to the U.S. holding company Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG). 

Lohse stressed that the closure of the Zurich branch was not due to budget or customer losses. "In 2011, Zurich had a super year." McCann's new clients included Logitech (EMEA campaign development), Acino Pharma (global brand development) and Logitech Sunstar Europe. However, the results of a single office did not change the consolidation decision, Lohse added.

What will happen to the Zurich team? Two to three months ago, Lohse explains, talks were held with the employees to evaluate their options in the Swiss and other markets. No layoffs have been announced. "Our employees have all already found something new." Some are moving to Draft FCB or Germany, while others have chosen agencies outside the network. Until the agency closes its doors, which is expected to be the end of February, Lohse is still busy re-housing current clients. She is not yet revealing what her personal future looks like. "I have decided to leave McCann and will take on a new challenge. First, though, I'm going to take a little time off." (imp)