Kevin Dunal, the long-time general manager of Adobe Systems Canada of Toronto was one of the casualties of the company’s realignment strategy.
On Oct. 30, Adobe announced that, based on lower-than-anticipated revenue in its fourth quarter, it would lower its revenue and earnings per share targets.
Also part of that announcement were staff reductions of approximately 150 people, or five per cent of its worldwide workforce.
Maria Poveromo, senior spokesperson for Adobe International, did not want to disclose the number of layoffs in Canada, but confirmed Dunal was part of the reduction.
“We are realigning our business and streamling our business and our sales teams is now reporting to the U.S. We do remain committed to the Canadian marketplace and the products will be available (through) regular channels. The sales team is in place to serve customer needs,” Poveromo said.
She added that a new Canadian GM was not in the company’s plans for the immediate future, but did not dismiss the possibility of hiring a new GM at some point.
“There is no way to predict what the economy is going to do or what the situation will be (for Adobe) and how large the market going to grow (in Canada),” she said.
Poveromo said that Adobe’s Canadian office will still have the authority to develop specific market plans for the country.
“As we do with all of our International operations a lot of the guidance comes from corporate and gets adapted, expanded or modified and other new projects get created for each region and that will be the same (for Canada),” she said.
Adobe’s realignment strategy does not include an escape strategy from the Canadian market, Poveramo said.
“Adobe is committed to Canadian market and has retained a solid team in Canada to service the needs of our customers and there will be no visible interruption of business or availability of product and we have not pulled out of Canada,” she said.
Dunal could not be reached for comment at press time.