Skype Axes Senior Execs Ahead of Microsoft Buyout

Posted 06/20/2011 at 7:31am | by Paul Lilly

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It was announced over the weekend that Microsoft received anti-trust approval for its $8.5 billion proposed acquisition of Skype, and as the deal inches ever closer to being complete, changes are already being made. According to a Bloomberg report, Skype went on a firing spree and axed several senior executives as a last minute move before the deal closes to reduce the value of their payout.

Citing "three people familiar with the matter," Bloomberg says Skype handed out pink slips to Vice Presidents David Gurle, Christopher Dean, Russ Shaw, and Don Albert. Other firings include Doug Bewsher (Chief Marketing Officer), Anne Gillespie (head of human resources), and executives Ramu Sunkara and Allyson Campa.

"Skype, like any other pragmatic organization, constantly assesses its team structure to deliver its users the best products," the company said in a written statement. "As part of a recent internal shift Skype has made some management changes."

According to Bloomberg, the timing of the Skype's management changes means that stock options will be worth less than if the executives stayed on board.