Informix US confirms 200 Euro job losses

Vendor gives out mixed messages as CEO announces job cuts after repeated denials from UK office

Ailing relational database supplier Informix has finally confirmed that it has cut 17 per cent of its European workforce, despite previous claims by its UK subsidiary that no mass layoffs would occur.

As Informix CEO Phil White prepared to meet financial analysts in New York last week, he confirmed that 200 jobs had been axed across Europe ? about 17 per cent of the 1,200-strong workforce.

The figure is higher than the global reduction the company said it would make following its Q1 loss of $140.1 million. When those results were announced, Europe was singled out for criticism for its lacklustre performance. Informix has already cut 100 US jobs and closed down its Japanese operation.

The European cuts come despite repeated denials from UK executives in recent weeks. Barbara Stanley, Informix UK marketing director, said earlier this month: ?I don?t think the policy is to get rid of people in dribs and drabs and we don?t intend to have mass layoffs in Europe.?

White made his comments as he prepared to meet financial analysts in New York to discuss its superstore initiative. It involved setting up a series of special outlets where Informix- based applications can be beta tested and demonstrated on hardware platforms.

But hardware partners have refused to donate kit for the outlets, forcing Informix to barter software in exchange, upsetting the company?s revenue. The scheme has been pared down to 11 outlets, but Ken Coulter, worldwide head of sales, said he was determined to carry on with the initiative.