Middle managers in firing line as Juniper 'right-sizes'

Axe hovering over six per cent of vendor's global workforce

Juniper Networks is taking a scythe to its middle management as it reduces the size of its global workforce by six per cent.

The network and security vendor confirmed the job cuts last night as it unveiled several initiatives designed to focus it on high-growth segments and "right-size" certain functions.

The majority of the headcount reductions are immediate, Juniper said, with a significant proportion being middle management posts.

Juniper will also cease development of the application delivery controller technology it licensed in July 2012, leading it to take an $85m (£51m) impairment charge in its current quarter.

The actions are part of a wider ongoing "integrated operating plan" Juniper claims will "strengthen its focus on the innovation that matters most to our customers".

"Additional actions and restructuring charges are expected to be taken in the second quarter and the balance of fiscal 2014, including facilities consolidations, marketing programme reductions, and other asset restructures," Juniper added.

Juniper has a headcount of about 9,500, meaning the move will affect about 570 staff.