X

EMC to cut 2,400 from workforce

Storage giant EMC announces a 7 percent workforce reduction, despite preliminary record fourth-quarter revenues.

Dawn Kawamoto Former Staff writer, CNET News
Dawn Kawamoto covered enterprise security and financial news relating to technology for CNET News.
Dawn Kawamoto

Storage giant EMC on Wednesday announced plans to cut 2,400 positions from its workforce, despite expectations of posting record fourth-quarter revenues.

The job cuts will represent 7 percent of the company's workforce, as part of a restructuring program that will also include consolidation of facilities and back office functions, and a rebalancing of products and markets.

EMC expects to cut $350 million in costs this year and as much as $500 million next year.

The cost cuts come as the company issued its preliminary fourth quarter forecast, in which it noted it expects to generate approximately $4 billion in revenues--a 4 percent increase over the same period a year ago. The company expects to generate net income of 23 to 24 cents a share, excluding restructuring charges. Those figures are in line with the company's previous forecast.

"We managed our costs and investments very carefully throughout 2008," Joe Tucci, EMC chief executive, said in a statement. "However, we believe this additional program will help us strike the right balance between achieving higher levels of efficiency and sustaining strong business agility and performance."