Meru CEO upbeat as it chops sales layer

WiFi vendor points to promising Q2 pipeline as it streamlines sales operations

Global field operations boss Larry Vaughan has become the latest victim of a staff cull at Meru Networks, the wireless LAN vendor has announced.

Meru revealed on Monday that Vaughan, who was senior vice president of worldwide sales and field operations, has been made to walk the plank as it ploughs on with a restructuring drive designed to reduce its workforce by 10 per cent.

This means that vice president of sales North America, Tom Palomaki, and vice president of sales international, David Kelly, will now report directly to chief executive Bami Bastani.

Bastani said Meru's quarterly breakeven sales level has now been trimmed to about $21m (£14m) to $22m and that "significant cost reductions in all departments" had been realised.

Q1 numbers will be consistent with the guidance Meru issued in January, when it predicted sales for the seasonally weak quarter would fall between $15.5m and $18.5m.

"In addition, we are pleased with the beginning pipeline entering the second quarter of 2015," he said.

Bastani added: "I want to thank Larry for his years of service to Meru and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

"A major goal of the previously commenced restructuring programme was to create a flatter organisation that would be both more efficient and more responsive to customer needs."