Clearswift to cut sales staff

Turner: This is about creating a channel-focused vendor

Clearswift has confirmed it is making cut-backs to its internal UK sales team as it bids to hone its channel focus and tightens its corporate belt.

The content security vendor has put 18 staff at risk of redundancy, the lion’s share of which work within its internal and telesales teams. The consultation period will last for two weeks.

Richard Turner, chief executive of Clearswift, stressed that the vendor would simultaneously recruit channel managers to underscore its commitment to resellers.

He told CRN: “We have a considerable investment in internal sales and telemarketing staff and you could argue that this is inappropriate for a vendor that is focused on the channel. This is about creating an organisation that is absolutely committed to the channel and is managed in a financially prudent way.”

Turner admitted the job cuts were also designed to prepare Clearswift for any downturn in the wider market over the coming quarters.

“We will emerge in the new year looking quite different and sounding quite different with a new channel programme,” he said.

Turner confirmed Clearswift was still in talks with distributor Magirus, which recently announced it was axing its standalone security division.

“We are in dialogue with Magirus. And we have had an excellent dialogue with Bell over the course of the last week and are happy it is a strong channel partner for us,” he said.