Discreet is to centralise its European systems business in London with the loss of around 37 jobs, writes Barbara Marshall
Discreet is to centralise its European systems business in London with the loss of around 37 jobs, writes Barbara Marshall.

The move is in response to 'difficult market conditions' and follows the restructure in August to split the high-end systems business from the 3D animation and desktop video operations.

A total of 37 posts will be closed in the three European offices and another three are expected to transfer to London. A further 10 jobs - mainly in sales and marketing - are being created in London with the net result that the systems team will fall from 90 people to about 60.

Discreet systems director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Patrick Jocelyn denied the Autodesk subsidiary was in financial difficulties, pointing to the group's cash reserves of around £136m (£88m). 'The market is looking up - we have had a number of sales, for example to Red Vision, Tyrell and MPC, and there are others in the pipeline,' he said.

Although the majority of redundancies will be made by the end of January, Jocelyn said a number of staff would be kept on beyond that to see out existing support contracts. 'No customer will be penalised. Support contracts will be honoured,' he said. The restructure reflects the move away from direct sales to using resellers, the majority of which are already in place, he added.

In a statement, Discreet said: 'In the past year Discreet has had to respond to dramatic opportunity changes as a result of difficult market conditions and shifting market dynamics in the systems business. These changes have revealed a level of growth that was less than previously forecast.' As a result, the firm is hoping to benefit from economies of scale by centralising the systems business and moving the majority of the other two divisions into Autodesk offices.

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