Mashable lays off unspecified number of employees as it shifts focus to video
Mashable has made an unspecified number of staff redundant and appointed several new hires, effective immediately, as it shifts its focus to video entertainment.
The digital media company is undergoing a major reorganisation following a $15m investment from TNT's parent company Turner.
Executive editor Jim Roberts is among those to depart, as is ex-New York Times advertising executive Seth Rogin, Mashable’s current chief revenue officer. The company has yet to confirm how many other staff have been affected by the changes.
Announcing the lay offs via a post on LinkedIn, the site's founder and chief executive Peter Cashmore posted a memo that he sent out to staff this morning, preceding it with a message asserting: "Last week we announced a funding round to put Mashable on more platforms, including television. This new focus means we have to change the way our teams are organized, and involved some very tough decisions.
While such decisions are part of running a business, they are never easy. Change can often be hard, but we're certain this is the right direction for Mashable."
The email to staff read: "To reflect these changes, we must organise our teams in a different way. Unfortunately this has led us to a very tough decision. Today we must part ways with some of our colleagues in order to focus our efforts. Everyone affected by these changes has already been notified.
"We are certain this is the right direction for Mashable. But that doesn't make it any less difficult to say goodbye to our friends and teammates. Mashable is a very close-knit family and I value the contributions of each and every member," he added.
Greg Gittrich will join Mashable as chief content officer to help the brand "unify its voice across all platforms," while former Turner Broadcasting sales member, Ed Wise, will take up the role of chief operating officer, replacing Rogin.
Mashable is now set to collaborate with TNT and Turner's other channel TBS to develop and distribute video. It will also work with the network on new tech and advertising projects.
The Drum contacted Mashable for more information on the changes. A spokesperson confirmed the details set out in Cashmore's LinkedIn post and said: "We won't be giving specifics on the number of employees affected by this reorganisation."