Senior layoffs at Lowe Roche

Days after announcing its new co-leaders, Lowe Roche has laid off a number of its staff, including some senior members and one of the heads of its creative department.

While the total number of layoffs could not be confirmed, Jane Murray, ECD at the agency, told strategy that she had been let go earlier today as part of an agency restructuring. Also among the layoffs were the agency’s director of production, Beth MacKinnon, an unnamed junior member of the agency’s account team and all of its financial staffers.

Marie-Lise Campeau, Lowe Roche’s CCO and one of the agency’s new co-presidents along with Jeff Dack, said in an email that the agency does not comment on personnel matters out of respect for its employees, and gave the following statement:

“The nature of our business requires us to constantly adapt to an ever-changing landscape. Occasionally this includes restructuring to best serve our current clients and position ourselves for the future. It is never easy to part ways with a colleague; in fact, it’s the toughest part of this business and pains us all to see someone go.”

Murray, along with Mark Mason, joined Lowe Roche as a CD from TBWA in November 2012. The pair were promoted to ECDs in December. A 21-year creative veteran, Murray has also previously been an ACD with Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Ogilvy & Mather, as well as a group CD at Taxi.

MacKinnon first joined Lowe Roche in 2007. Prior to that, she spent two years as a producer at The Production Kitchen and 11 years with Taxi, last holding the title of VP of production.

Campeau and Dack were named co-presidents last week following the departure of CEO Monica Ruffo in February.