DMA Cuts Staff for the Third Time
The Direct Marketing Association has initiated its third round of layoffs in seven months. Outside sources put the number of employees terminated at nine.
Spokesperson Christina Duffney confirmed the downsizing, but declined to comment on the number of staff terminated. She said the layoffs were part of a larger, ongoing reorganization to improve efficiency. Some of the eliminated positions were related to the completion of the annual DMA fall conference held last month in Chicago.
Scott Roberts, the DMA’s vice president of corporate and marketing communications was one of those let go, according to outside sources.
There had been speculation recently that the DMA would cut more staff after the Chicago conference came to a close.
Last month, the association, reacting to the downturn in the economy, laid off 19 employees. Those affected ranged from junior- to director-level personnel.
And in May, 17 employees from the seminar division were terminated when the association began outsourcing conference registration and data input functions. A 30% to 40% drop in conference attendance was cited as the reason for the May layoffs.
The DMA employs about 170 people.
