MySpace slashes international workforce

Myspace

MySpace is to cut 300 jobs, including international MD Travis Katz, and at least four of its international offices as the company looks to save costs.

The News Corp-owned social network has announced plans to reduce the number of international staff from 450 employees to approximately 150, with Katz understood to be one of those to go.

The news follows last week’s announcement that MySpace is cutting 30% of its US workforce.

The restructure will see London, Berlin and Sydney become the primary regional hubs for MySpace’s international operations while Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Sweden and Spain will all be placed under review for a possible restructure.

Neither MySpace China, which is locally owned and operated, or Japan, which is a joint venture, will be affected by the proposed plan.

Owen Van Natta, CEO of MySpace, said, “With roughly half of MySpace’s total user base coming from outside the U.S., maintaining productive and efficient operations in our international markets is important to users worldwide and our immediate financial strength.”

“As we conducted our review of the company, it was clear that internationally, just as in the U.S., MySpace’s staffing had become too big and cumbersome to be sustainable in current market conditions. Today’s proposed changes are designed to transform and refine our international growth strategy,” said Van Natta.

Katz joined MySpace in 2006, growing its initial international staff of two to its existing levels.

This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk