AOL To Layoff 100 Staffers Across Platform-A
This story was written by David Kaplan.
AOL (NYSE: TWX) plans to layoff roughly 100 staffers from its Platform-A ad agency network over the coming months, sources say, confirming an earlier report from SAI. While roughly a dozen staffers may have been laid off immediately, most will come over several weeks, sources tell us. An AOL rep said acknowledged that layoffs are planned to eliminate "redundancies," the company is not specifying how many of Platform-A's 1,500 staffers are being let go. AOL released a statement: "These steps are necessary to guarantee that Platform-A's people and technologies are organized around common goals and operate as a seamless organization that is focused on our customers."
Making a decision on where and how many jobs to cut was a top priority Lynda Clarizio, who replaced Curt Viebranz as Platform-A president after disagreements over the pace and direction of integrating the six separate units within the network. Platform-A is comprised of display ad network Advertising.com and more recent acquisitions including behavioral targeter Tacoda, contextual advertier Quigo, streaming media ad specialist Lightningcast, German online ad server Adtech, and mobile ad services provider Third Screen Media.
It was unclear whether any senior posts were being eliminated as part of this layoff round. Platform-A has already seen the defection of three high-profile execs, including Dave Morgan, who left in February as EVP-Global Advertising Strategy in February to create a start-up; also in February, Kathy Kayse exited as EVP of marketing solutions to work for Discovery Communications.
By David Kaplan