Skype said to be firing execs to reduce payouts

By on Jun 20, 2011 at 6:46 PM
Business June 20, 2011

Skype has started to fire several of its executives in an effort to reduce payouts from its Microsoft purchase, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Among the execs being let go are vice presidents Christopher Dean, David Gurle, don Albert, and Russ Shaw, as well as chief marketing officer Doug Bewsher, and the head of human resources, Anne Gillespi. Two other execs from Skype’s Qik acquisition earlier this year — Ramu Sunkara and Allyson Campa — were also fired according to the report. This could possibly mean that the executives will lose any stock options that were not yet vested. Microsoft announced on May 10th that it was acquiring Skype for $8.5 billion, and the deal is still pending FCC approval.

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  • Cer

    Wow, talk about asking ex-employees to file a lawsuit against you. Dick move.

    • Anonymous

      Why unless they are part of a union an employer can legally fire them for good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.

      • Cer

        That’s not correct. First, it would only be true if the employment
        relationship is at-will. I would expect all these execs to have contracts.
        Second, there’s a difference between having a real, bona fide claim, and
        having a grievance and threatening to sue and then actually suing, even if
        your claim is weak, in order to get a nice settlement. It’s called
        posturing.

      • http://twitter.com/aergern aergern

        Not in California you can’t. And why the hell should employees that have invested years just get a **** ***? Truth is … they are salaried executives … they can’t just be let go for any reason under the sun so you are wrong. These are McDonald’s employees here.

        It’s a lawsuit in the making.

      • http://twitter.com/DaJagman Jonathan Harmon

        Amen….Skype is committing raype on their employees…… 

      • Helmhotlz

        Not entirely true. Even in an at-will employment situation you can’t fire someone to screw them out of compensation justly-earned. For example, if someone is earning a commission and they are paid in month 12 of the work, you can’t fire them in month 11 to avoid having to pay them. 

      • Anonymous

        Not true: in the U.S. no one is allowed to get fired! Just look at the Post Offices, Social Security Administration Offices, State Government Offices, Local Government Offices, NYC MTA and other Mass Transit Agencies, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s, etc.

  • Anonymous

    If true, that is one of the lowest moves a company like that can make.  Total slimeball move.  Wonder if that was part of the “deal” with Microsoft?

    • Bullyboyb

      This has nothing to do with microsoft. Its greedy skype owners who don’t want to pay executives a share of the 8.5 billion dollars. If these executives are kept on they will be entitled to a share through stock options e.t.c

      Microsoft has nothing to do with this. Even if you close your skype accounts the greedy little fucks will still get their money from microsoft and not share with the fired exec’s.

      Its greedy individuals who do not want to pay their collegues for the effort they put to make the company an 8.5 billion dollar company.

      Personally I think microsoft should put the acquisation on hold till they sort their house out.

  • http://twitter.com/craigmaloof craigmaloof

    This is one of the worst things I’ve heard. Good way of putting a boot into the ass of your employees and tell them that all of the work that they have done ultimately means nothing. Poor showing by Skype if you ask me.

  • Anonymous

    Really instilling confidence in the Microsoft Skype.  Feels like a Danger coming on.

    • Bullyboyb

      Do you read articles or just skim through?
      What has microsoft to do with this other than that they are offering 8.5 billion for the company? The management doing the firing have no link to microsoft and will probably lose their jobs when microsoft takes over. Its about greed within a company for proceeds from the sale.

      • Anonymous

        Do you pay attention to history, or do you only nitpick

        When was the last time Microsoft taken external technology and turned it around to beat down broad competition instead of ending up killing it instead?

      • Anonymous

        Do you pay attention to history, or do you only nitpick

        When was the last time Microsoft taken external technology and turned it around to beat down broad competition instead of ending up killing it instead?

  • skullan

    Wow, the only thing worse than a corporation giving millions of dollars of unworthy cash, garnered due to its hard working minions, is to screw people out of it like this.

  • Massey78727

    SKYPE is such a dirty little company – oh – hey SKYPE, I’m cancelin my account with you greedy a-holes and just going to start utilizing MAGICJACK and other competitors. 

    • Anonymous

      I’m sure they’ll miss you…

  • Anonymous

    So working hard to make skype nice, then once someone decides to buy skype, boot out all the workers and keep the cash for yourself. sad

  • TuhTuhTourrr!!!

    Wow. You stay classy , Skype

  • Guest

    this has been debunked.  the employees are getting 75% of what they would have gotten and the ceo disclaims any contact regarding the sale with the pe firm implicated.  the difference to the pe firm was apparently chump change

  • RFS

    Just closed my Skype account. I don’t really want the gov’t running things but it would be better than these pukes.

  • Anonymous

    Poor executives…

  • http://twitter.com/jdrch Judah Richardson

    That’s a really low move by Skype.

  • Anonymous

    It’s not Skype; I guarantee that these were part of Microsh¡t’s purchase agreement.

    Microsh¡t = Evil Empire

  • Eric

    Maybe these are essentially layoffs for positions that will not be needed when Microsoft takes over? I agree with others though, this isn’t even a done deal yet. This is on Skype and not MS.

    Still think it was stupid of MS to pay $8.5 billion for a company they could have purchased a year or two ago for $2.5 billion (and a company that others, today, weren’t willing to pay more then $4 to $5 billion for). Spending more just because you can is stupid. 

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