Hasta La Creative!

Is it Brexit all over again? Probably not, but Spain is divided over Catalonia’s attempt to declare independence for the affluent northeast region that includes creative capital Barcelona, where many ad agencies have offices. And some marketers based in the region are talking about moving their headquarters so they don’t find themselves left out of the European Union should the independence movement succeed.

In an Oct. 1 referendum, which Spanish courts ruled illegal, almost 90% of those who voted in Catalonia backed independence. But only about 40% of the region’s eligible voters turned out, after the Spanish government asked its supporters to boycott the referendum.

Some agencies with Barcelona offices have been letting employees who support Catalan independence take time off to attend demonstrations. “We are a multicultural agency and we are very respectful of each other’s opinions,” says Gonzaga Ayllon, Lola-MullenLowe Barcelona’s director of client services. He says clients, which include Unilever’s Magnum and Axe brands, have been patient while the demonstrations continue.

Continue reading at AdAge.com