Mullen confirms 5 percent layoffs

Mullen, the Wenham-based advertising agency that just this week won an award for its interactive campaign for the energy company National Grid, confirmed that it is laying off 5 percent of its work force.

Mullen had a head count for about about 600 people in four offices. A 5-percent cut would work out to be about 30 jobs. An agency spokesman declined to say how many people were laid off at the agency's Wenham headquarters, which had a head count of 400 people.

The agency, whose clients include General Motors Corp. and the T.J. Maxx off-price retail chain, has satellite offices in Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Winston-Salem, N.C. The layoffs affected only the agency's Wenham and Detroit offices, the spokesman said.

Because advertising budgets are often one of the first items that companies cut during hard times, ad agencies are particularly sensitive to economic downturns.

Last month, Arnold Worldwide said it would cut 8 percent of its Boston work force, a move estimated to affect just under 50 jobs.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)