Mazda’s Ad Agency Lays Off 22

The Orange County office of the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency has laid off 22 workers since late last week because of cutbacks by client Mazda Motors of America, a spokesman said Tuesday.

The Santa Ana office has been entirely devoted to the Mazda auto account for 24 years. The layoffs represented about 10% of the office staff in Santa Ana.

“Mazda, like all Japanese auto makers, is under intense financial pressure because of the sharp increase in the yen’s value against the dollar,” said William C. Hagelstein, an executive vice president who is manager of the Orange County office. “We’re doing what we can to lower our client’s costs.”

Foote, Cone & Belding, based in Chicago, is ranked by the trade publication Advertising Age as the nation’s largest advertising agency. It operates other California offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.