Staff angry as troubled ArdentDigital closes China spin-off

A dispute has broken out between an Australian digital agency and employees of its China operation, who were left without jobs after the Shanghai office was closed.

Sydney-based agency ArdentDigital, a spin-off company of BlueArc, shuttered its Chinese arm Activate Shanghai on 7 November, letting its staff go the day they were informed of the closure.

Activate Shanghai was closed after running into financial difficulties.

The closure followed a move by BlueArc to go into voluntary administration in Australia at the beginning of November, appointing SV Partners as its administrator. BlueArc continues to trade, while ArdentDigital is being restructured and is still servicing its clients.