Five made redundant on Ikon’s Myer account
Five roles have been made redundant on Ikon’s Myer account, Mumbrella can reveal. The roles effected were: two business directors, one account manager, one digital manager, and one social media manager.
WPP confirmed the “small number” of redundancies, which Mumbrella understands were made to convert the Myer team into one with a performance media focus, particularly search and social.
“Ikon Communications can confirm that a small number of staff have left the agency following a review of agency resources for its Myer account. The decision to recalibrate staff was not taken lightly and out of respect for those involved, we have no further comment to make,” said an Ikon spokesperson.
Myer, with creative agency Clemenger BBDO, won Mumbrella’s 2018 Ad of the Year for its Christmas bauble campaign, but the department store has struggled in recent years. On 6 November 2009, when Myer listed on the share market, its share price was $3.05. By 1 August 2014, it had dropped to $1.90, and yesterday, the most recent result, was 54c. Its share price hit an all-time low on 8 February this year at 36c.
Last year, the Australian brand posted a $486m loss, its first loss since being listed in 2009 and a huge slump in comparison to its 2016-17 profit of $12m. Chief executive John King – who was appointed to the role last June after his predecessor, Richard Umbers, was sacked for failing to reverse Myer’s fortunes – said the results were “disappointing”.
Competitor David Jones has faced similar struggles, earlier this month cutting 100 staff, including 30 head office jobs and 90 non-CBD store jobs. Both David Jones and Myer have flagged that, in an effort to combat their respective slumps, they’ll be shifting their focus to their ‘private’ in-house labels to minimise the crossover of brands being sold in both stores, which both companies hope will lessen competition.
Yesterday, it was reported that Rob Moore has begun legal action against WPP stablemate Mediacom for making his Melbourne general manager role redundant following his disclosure that he had a diagnosis of depression.
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Seems a bit strange (read: weak) to link this to the Rob Moore story.
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Small number of staff they say? Sounds like the entire team I say.
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Huckleberry mark 2. I hope the staff are prepared.
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Hi Mumbrella, will you be covering the several layoffs over the past few weeks at Clems Melbourne?
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They’re going to optimise themselves to growth are they? Hilarious.
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They only have 20 staff members, I hardly think this is a “small” amount. Huckleberry version 2 indeed. What a waste.
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This has everything to do with the Rob Moore story. Hopefully more news to come.
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Obviously not a lot of research went into [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
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Was bound to happen from the get go [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
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A lot more to this story…
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I know for a fact 2 of these staff members had to be taken from the office via ambulance late last year due to work related mental health. Both collapsed in the office.
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And were they offered redeployment?
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This is what happens [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]. So well credentialed.
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Sure sign of bigger things to come. Myer is of course a basket case, but you’d have to think it’s no better over at Scentre group with F&B growth also on the slide.
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Every bit identical to the Rob Moore story – only x 5. Hopefully it is reported properly in the coming days…
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Not good!
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The industry knows Ikon Melbourne have lost the digital account to another WPP company in Essence. This is also after they lost the Search account last year. Ikon Melbourne are on their knees.
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Don’t worry Herman the German will sort all this out when he gets there…
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Shame to see the Huckleberry curse has struck again
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Don’t tell me [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]?? How is this possible
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I don’t understand how s [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]. All smoke and mirrors I suspect.
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Interesting that most of these comments seem to come from the same sources, with the same sentiment. The conspiratorial link of redundancies to the Rob Moore story is just ridiculous. Same owner, different company. Really, if these comments are from the disgruntled ex-employees then I say take a look at yourselves. The references to Huckleberry is irrelevant and just a bit pathetic. Unfortunately all agencies are going through troubled times. You can’t maintain staff levels if you don’t have the base. Just ask Dentsu Aegis. How many were let go in the last 8 weeks? How about you give the industry, the agency and hard working people who are still there, a go. How about we all lighten up. And no, I don’t work there, just sad that yet another agency is contracting.
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I know for a fact 2 or the redundant 5 were taken from the ikon office via ambulance due to work related stress. And I know huckleberry staff went through the same thing without such help. How many of these staff members have been receiving therapy. I know. You don’t.
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[Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]. Smarten up!
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I love the toy business! Just stop.
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