Updated: Jobs slashed at Info'Products

Compel yesterday slashed around 30 per cent of jobs at Info’Products UK, prompting the London sales team to walk out in protest. Sources close to Info’Products told The Register that top flight personnel were among those laid off, including Simon Steele, regional sales director for the City office and Brian Wathan, services delivery manager. Minimum statutory redundancy payments were believed to have been made. Those staff that qualify look set to receive one week's pay for every year in service, plus a month's salary on top. Walk-outs were said to follow the layoff announcements, leaving only four out of the 18 staff to run the London operation. The move comes less than one month after Compel bought the troubled UK reseller for £1 following months of revelations about failing finances and lost accounts. Sources say the integration will be a difficult one, and many redundancies are due largely to Info’Products personnel’s unwillingness to go through with Compel’s plans to unify the two companies. John Kemp, Compel technical services director - the man in charge of the integration of the two companies - refused to confirm or deny the cuts. He said: "I think you should be speaking to our publicity people, love. I’m not the right person to speak to." Info’Products’ customer base is still believed to be in jeopardy, with many still unhappy with the Chelmsford-based reseller. ®