WANdisco lets a third of its staff go

Troubled data outfit WANdisco has announced plans to cut around 30 per cent of its global workforce as the scandal-hit firm deals with the fallout of recent fraud allegations.

The data firm said it will undertake a “reorganisation and review process” that will result in significant job cuts across its global operations.

The cloud migration specialist has more than 150 employees spread across several regions worldwide, with offices in Sheffield, Belfast, Newcastle, San Francisco, South Korea, and Australia.

Proposed layoffs will apply to “all areas of the company’s operational and geographic footprint” and the firm said that it is talking to affected staff.

WANdisco executive chairman Kenneth Lever said the proposal to reduce the company’s overall headcount was considered at great length.

“Regrettably, the proposed action is a necessary step to responsibly position WANdisco for long-term growth. “We are working through the process as sensitively and supportively as we can, providing those directly impacted with as much information and support as possible and at all times in full compliance with local law.”

The decision to impose staff cuts follows a period of disruption at WANdisco in which the company has been accused of fraud.

In early April, CEO and co-founder David Richards MBE and chief financial officer Erik Miller stepped down in the wake of an ongoing investigation into fraud allegations.

The investigation was prompted by the discovery of financial irregularities in March this year.

An external probe into company finances revealed that revenue figures published in its previous quarterly report were inaccurate.

Annual revenue figures for 2022 had previously been reported to be around $24 million. However, the investigation found that this was in fact $9.7 million.

Sales figures were also allegedly inflated in the inaccurate reports which were $11.4 million compared to $127 million.

At the time, WANdisco suggested that a single employee was responsible for the false revenue figures, according to reports from Reuters.

The Sheffield-headquartered firm also denied any connection between the April leadership shake-up and the allegations.