Koerner

Stacey Lynn Koerner is leaving Interpublic, and the agency is closing its Consumer Experience Practice, which she had been tapped to run, and has laid off its eight staffers.

The new IPG division was created 10 months ago to help clients use emerging media to more effectively reach their customers. It is reportedly being closed for financial reasons, Ad Age reports. Koerner, who is getting married next month, will take some time off to consider her next career move, AdWeek adds.

Koerner headed up a team of eight specialists who were given the responsibility of creating a "consumer-focused research capability" across Interpublic media agencies Initiative and Universal McCann. The group was also given the task of developing proprietary research in sectors where Interpublic's media clients do business.

Since Interpublic began realigning its media agencies with its creative agencies in an effort to streamline the operations between the two last October, this most recent move appears to be an attempt to consolidate research expertise into the media units themselves.