• Posted by: Technology Staff Editor
• On: 08/18/2008 16:02:12
• In: Information Technology

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Tech Data laid off less than 1 percent of its workforce Tuesday in a move describes as a "realignment based on investments we want to make going forward," according to Joe Quaglia, senior vice president of marketing at the Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor. He declined to say where the layoffs occurred among Tech Data's 8,000 global employee base, but said they were across the organization.

One channel source said the layoffs amounted to 80 people at the company's Clearwater, Fla., headquarters and included some director-level management.

Quaglia said management positions were affected, but no senior executives. "There was not one department singled out," he said.

Despite the layoffs, Tech Data plans to add new jobs in different areas, Quaglia said, but he declined to say where those positions would be added.

"We're still going through where all the new positions will land and so forth, to make sure we continue to drive the business in sales, marketing and technical [support]," he said. "We continue to invest in SMB and in our highest-growth areas within our product divisions. This is a realignment to continue to grow the business."

Quaglia added that VARs should not see their service levels impacted by the moves. "It's business as usual. We feel strong about our position in the market," he said.

Tech Data's layoffs come just weeks after Ingram Micro announced similar cuts, cutting more than 100 jobs, mostly from its DBL Distributing group, a consumer electronics unit based in Scottsdale, Ariz. Ingram plans to close a local warehouse there it acquired after buying DBL.