This was inevitable, unfortunately. We’ve received confirmation that GlobalHue has cut 20 staffers over the past couple of weeks. As you’d expect, sources tell us that the cuts were due in part to Verizon shifting its multicultural ad duties away from GH. As you recall, the telecom giant has now split its Hispanic and African-American work between Lopez Negrete and Common Ground, respectively. From what we’ve been told by sources with the matter, the GlobalHue cuts affect roughly “less than 10%” of the agency, which currently houses approximately 400 employees.

After spending ten years at multicultural agency GlobalHue, where she serves as chief financial/operating officer, Gaye Miller-Smiley is being moved into a consulting role and has NOT resigned according to sources familiar with the matter. From what we’ve been told, her day-to-day responsibilities at GH will be transitioned to a longtime senior employee in in the finance department–though no word yet on who this person exactly is. As for Miller-Smiley, the exec joined GlobalHue in 2003 after spending over two decades as a public accountant and has managed the usual CFO/COO duties at the agency including 401(k) matters as well as relationships with vendors, bankers and insurance companies.

It appears that Verizon’s nearly three-month multicultural review has drawn to a close as the telecom giant sent us the statement below late last Friday that basically sums things up:

“We are in an industry that’s changes rapidly and it is important that we stay competitive in every aspect of our business including our advertising.   Verizon Communications has been working with López Negrete Communications for more than two years and we are expanding their scope of work in order to help drive agency efficiencies across all our lines of business.”

Seeing as Verizon has expanded its relationship with Houston-based López Negrete, one wonders where this leaves GlobalHue, which has worked with the brand for years on its multicultural biz. What we do know as of know is that despite what tipsters have been telling us, GH will NOT be closing up its New York office “any time soon.” Sources in the know add that the agency has actually won two more AOR assignments that will be announced in the near future. We’ll keep you posted. Update: Just to clarify, Lopez Negrete will focus on Verizon’s Hispanic business while Chicago-based shop Common Ground will handle its African-American work.

So, here we go with some more clarification, this time concerning the state of GlobalHue in the aftermath of Verizon deciding to review its multicultural biz a few months ago. Well, first of all, we checked directly with Verizon and here’s a statement from a spokesperson that may help clarify things: “We are not done with the RFP review process and cannot comment until we complete all aspects of it. We are eager to complete this as quickly as possible.”

And now, back to GlobalHue. Despite tipsters’ comments that the agency’s New York hub sent a letter to all staff telling them that the office is closing in 90 days, sources familiar with the matter tell us that no matter what path Verizon takes, the office is “not closing at any point.” Here are some specifics: We’ve been told that due to the ongoing Verizon review, GlobalHue is required by NY state and federal law to send a letter to all NY-based employees.  As required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) of 1988, and the New York State Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 2008, the purpose of this letter is to give 90 days’ advance notice of potential layoffs to employees.

According to sources, while GlobalHue NY awaits Verizon’s decision, the agency has picked up a few other multicultural accounts including the NBA. Of course, we’ll be keeping an eye on things, but there’s your second status update for the day.

Well, calls to the agency have confirmed tips we’ve received over the last 24 hours that Maria Lopez-Knowles, who’s been with GlobalHue since 2010 and was promoted to president of the multicultural agency’s Latino division and New York hub last year, is leaving for a new gig in the West Coast.

All we know thus far from those in the Spy line is that it’s apparently a CMO job at a media company and her departure “shocked” some at the agency. Anyhow, from what we’re hearing, as of now, there are no immediate plans to replace Lopez-Knowles, who joined GlobalHue three years ago after spending six as an SVP at MRM with a focus on the Hispanic market.

Well, we went straight to the source on this one and we’ve heard from the Verizon camp itself that the telecom giant is indeed putting its multicultural account up for review. Here’s a statement from a Verizon spokesperson: “We are in an industry that’s changes rapidly and it is important that we stay competitive in every aspect of our business including our advertising.   We have chosen to review our agency relationship and GlobalHue has been invited to participate in the RFP.”

GlobalHue has been working with Verizon for nine years and according to sources in the know, the agency currently serves as the multicultural AOR for the Verizon Wireless Hispanic and African-American target segments. The remit as of now according to our sources includes strategy, creative, broadcast/print production and leadership of all Verizon Wireless Hispanic/African-American efforts. From what we’ve heard from the client, the aim is to get this multicultural business review done rather quickly, so expect an update sooner than later.

Well, this was news to us, but after spending the last three years at GlobalHue, Michael Jacobs has moved on, joining up as chief creative officer at New York-based marketing technology studio, iRGONOMIC, which seems to be focused on the CMO/CIO set according to its description.

As for Jacobs, the senior creative initially joined GlobalHue as digital ECD after spending several years at MRM, where he last served as executive creative director exclusively on the agency’s GM business. Just months after joining GlobalHue, Jacobs was bumped up to EVP/ECD and oversaw all creative out of the agency’s New York office as it was undergoing “realignment.” In subsequent years, the exec was elevated to chief digital officer and led the charge on Voyr, a concept spawned from the agency’s incubator, GHV, that essentially served as a content vehicle for Kanye West and hyped the artist’s “Watch the Throne” tour with Jay-Z.

From what we’ve been told, Jacobs left GlobalHue of his own volition.

We’ve received confirmation that Cathy Antoniello who has spent 11 years at multiculural agency GlobalHue, last serving as VP/executive producer, is no longer at the agency. From what we’ve learned, Antoniello led production teams in the both the agency’s New York and Southfield, MI offices, and was most recently based in the latter. Spies allege that Antoniello parted ways with the agency as a result of tiffs with “high-level brass” and that the remaining producers are “shocked and angry.” We have yet to clarify these things as GlobalHue won’t comment further on her departure.

After spending the last two-and-a-half years at GlobalHue’s Detroit office, where he helped lead brand advertising on the Jeep account, Dolph Kawalec is no longer with the agency. We’re hearing that GlobalHue and Kawalec parted ways last Thursday. Prior to his departure, the now-former VP/CD worked on campaigns for the aforementioned Jeep brand that included last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 cross-promotion.

Kawalec is no stranger to automotive work, having served as ACD/art director at both Leo Burnett and Publicis for clients including General Motors and BMW. Earlier on his career, the creative spent a handful of years at BBDO Chicago, where he not only served as ACD/AD primarily on the Wrigley’s business, but co-founded a shop within said agency dubbed Hardware.

It’s been a while since we’ve shed some light on GlobalHue, save for the random Jeep campaign, branding assignment or other drama, but the agency has announced that it’s bumped up SVP/ECD Vida Cornelious to chief creative officer, EVP/ECD Michael Jacobs to chief digital officer and EVP of client services Maria Lopez-Knowles to president of GH Latino.

In addition to the promotions, GlobalHue has welcomed MRM/TBWA\Chiat\Day alum Matt Lee as SVP of business development and Jorge Abascal as SVP, creative director. All the posts are based in NYC.