D&AD Forced to Cut Staff Positions Due to Fewer Award Entries

Just a few short months into advertising icon Tim O’Kennedy‘s tenure as the new head of the creative charity D&AD and he’s already had to take on a tough decision. Less than ten days into O’Kennedy’s takeover as chief executive, the organization has announced that they will be laying off twelve positions, which includes two higher-up managers and four spots they were previously intending to fill. Reason being for the cuts is that they’ve had far fewer entries (and along with them: entry fees) to their bread-and-butter, the annual D&AD Awards (you’ll recall this year’s Cannes awards also ran into this issue). Here’s a bit from over at Design Week from the group’s chairman:

“We have spent the past six months reviewing the numbers and planning for the next year, and have decided that a reduction in headcount is the most regrettable, but the most secure, course of action for the long-term welfare of the organisation.”

Other cost-cutting measures being put into place to meet the executive committee’s strategic plan include a reduction in the number of President’s Lectures to four or five a year

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