• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, January 20, 2015

Well, it's a sad day for those working in the Pittsburgh office of Mullen. After losing Healthcare account Highmark Inc., the agency appears to be shuttering its Pittsburgh office at the end of March, according to a Pittsburgh Business Times source. The agency has had the account for 15 years and didn't make the cut in an ongoing agency review. Highmark is expected to make its final agency selection on Wednesday.

Of the office closing, Michele Fabrizi, CEO of area ad agency Marc USA said, "I think it's very sad that business is leaving Pittsburgh. There are agencies, such as ours, that can definitely service that business."

Pittsburgh area ad agencies have begun receiving resumes from some of the 45 employees who work in the Mullen office. Brunner Inc. CEO Michael Brunner says: We've had some inquiries by Mullen staff" and Fabrizi added, "Hopefully, they can stay in Pittsburgh and we can retain that talent." 

It's unclear whether or not the Pittsburgh office's remaining accounts will remain in the Mullen family.