HTC has seen better days. Despite launching the well-received HTC One, the company had tough time convincing a critical number of users into buying their phones. Customers are instead turning to the likes of Samsung and Apple, as well as LG and Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE.
The latest piece of bad news involves the Taiwanese company’s US arm, HTC America, which laid off 20% of its 150 employees and contractors. According to the division’s chief executive Jason Mackenzie, this “reduction in force” was not an easy decision to make but it was needed to “streamline and optimize our organization and improve efficiencies after several years of aggressive growth.”
Here’s the statement about the layoffs that was obtained by The Verge:
Today’s reduction in force is a decisive action by HTC Corp (US) to streamline and optimize our organization and improve efficiencies after several years of aggressive growth. Realigning its human resources against key strategic initiatives will help HTC more effectively advance into a new stage of growth and innovation. This is a hard decision that has direct impact on people who have contributed to the growth HTC has experienced the past several years. However, to achieve our long-term goals as a business and return maximum value to our shareholders, this is a necessary step to drive ongoing innovation, ensure our ability to create strong products like the HTC One, and forge strong customer relationships that solidify our future. HTC is proud of its employees and has a track record of hiring the best and brightest; we continue to hire in strategic areas and encourage impacted employees to apply for open positions that are a fit for their skills.
Now let’s hope that Robert Downey, Jr. can help the company get back to the path of profitability…