Patch realigns, lays off key leadership
A Romenesko source reports:
Patch is realigning, and folding the South zone into the East zone. They laid off key leadership in the South, including Tim Windsor, the former VP of Interactive from the Baltimore Sun. They’re also laying off regional editors today.
UPDATE: Keach Hagey reports at WSJ.com that Patch is laying off about 20 people as it consolidates its four geographic zones into three.
* In wake of layoffs, a 4-step plan for Patch success (StreetFightMag.com)
Earlier on JimRomenesko.com:
* Patch is “the most significant media organization in the nation,” says exec
* Patch is expected to cut staff and change editorial focus
PATCH MEDIA CEO JON BROD’S MEMO TO EMPLOYEES IS AFTER THE JUMP
2012 AND BEYOND
Patchers,
Since setting our OTOG strategy in motion several months ago, we have been closely monitoring its impact – and the results have been impressive, to say the least: the most traffic in Patch history, a significant boost in revenue, and more dynamic collaboration between Edit and Sales at every turn. OTOG has allowed us to streamline our business while addressing the individuality of our markets and serving our communities as effectively as possible.
As our platform has scaled and we have continued to gain traction with both consumers and advertisers, we aren’t letting our wins to date stand in the way of our momentum toward tomorrow. Now more than ever, we are confident in our model and we are gearing up for long-term success. As discussed on recent company calls, one of our four focus areas (alongside Product/Engineering, Content, and Revenue) is Efficiency – making sure we’re doing things well, we’re doing them fast, and we’re using our resources as effectively as we can. With this in mind, we have made a decision to integrate the South zone into the East zone. Effective immediately, our three zones are East, Central, and West.
This is the next step toward achieving our ambitious revenue and traffic goals for the second half of the year and beyond. We have a strategy to win, and further streamlining our field structure will give our model added strength, more operating leverage, and greater flexibility to meet our users’ and advertisers’ needs. And it’s important to note that no sites will be shutting down as a result of the zone integration.
We will be holding team discussions throughout the day, along with Zone calls this afternoon, to discuss this change and what it means for you. We encourage you to join these calls later today (invitations to follow). I want to thank you for all you’ve done so far to make 2012 our best year ever. Let’s keep it up, stay focused on our mission, and continue to make Patch the massive success we know it will be – we are well on our way.
Go Patch!
JB
