The agency earlier dimissed eight people after losing its other big client, Bacardi Imports.
Bacardi said Mr. O'Hara will remain a member of the board and serve as a consultant to the rum maker.
Bacardi has skirted the network position by making its purchases on the local spot market, where station owners are allowed to make their own ad decisions.
Nonetheless, the embattled midsized agency dismissed at least six of its approximately 400 employees last week, including two from the Bacardi account, according to industry sources.
Bacardi also maintains that Breezers, with only 4% alcohol, have about the same alcohol content as beer and considerably less than most wines.
Even if the controversy over the Breezer's presence on TV blows over, Bacardi already faces another storm.
Liquor industry executives fear that the ads give anti-alcohol activists an easy target at the wrong time and that Bacardi's bold strategy seems designed to test the limits of what can be advertised on TV.
Next month, Bacardi plans to begin advertising its new rum-based coolers, Bacardi Breezers, on local TV stations in some test markets.
Next month, Bacardi plans to begin advertising its new rum-based coolers, Bacardi Breezers, on local TV stations in some test markets.
The controversy focuses in large part on a tag line that says, "Bacardi Light Rum Makes the Difference."
Bacardi Corp. said its chairman, Alfred P. O'Hara, retired effective Tuesday.
Bacardi wanted to sell the drink in Germany.
A "handful" of the agency's estimated 375 employees were fired after the Bacardi loss.
They said Bacardi should "stop stealing role models" such as pop star Gloria Estefan, whose concert tour Bacardi sponsored.
They said Bacardi should "stop stealing role models" such as pop star Gloria Estefan, whose concert tour Bacardi sponsored.
Bacardi International said Mr Eduardo Cutillas, chief executive, was abroad and no one else could comment. Martini is known to have been searching for some time for an international partner.