JCDecaux to cut jobs in the UK

by Maisie McCabe, mediaweek.co.uk 18-Dec-08, 13:05

LONDON - JCDecaux is set to make redundancies at its 700-strong UK operation, though fewer than 20 staff are thought to be affected.

The departures are likely to come from a number of departments, including sales.

JCDecaux declined to comment.

At the beginning of December it emerged that Max Eburne, director of Première at JCDecaux, will move to Australia in the New Year, to become the outdoor firm's general manager of sales, Australia.

Eburne joined JCDecaux from Maiden Outdoor in March 2006 as associate director, reporting to Spencer Berwin, managing director, sales.

Last month, JCDecaux's UK division posted a decline in revenues in Q3, with UK billboard and street furniture revenues down and transport revenues flat.

JCDecaux said its UK transport division's organic revenue growth, which excludes the impact of acquisitions and currency fluctuations, was also flat in the third quarter.

It added that the UK market for street furniture "remained difficult" and the billboard division "suffered from weak demand". A spokesman confirmed organic revenues for both were down year on year.

Two weeks ago, Clear Channel Outdoor UK indicated that it is to make some 80 of its 840-strong UK workforce redundant.