Skype cuts some executives before the deal is completed by Microsoft

According to foreign media reports, three unnamed sources said Skype had cut some of its executives before the deal was completed by Microsoft, to reduce the return on stock options paid to them.

The source said that Vice President David Gourle (David Gurle), Christopher Dien (Christopher Dean), Rousse Show (Russ Shaw) and Tang Albert (Don Albert) had left their jobs, and chief marketing Gees Biyusche ( Doug Bewsher) and Human Resources department Annie Gilspy (Anne Gillespie) was fired. Executives Ram Sancara (Ramu Sunkara) and Allison Kampa (Allyson Campa) have also left Skype.

The source said that leaving the company now means that the value of their stake will be lower than Microsoft's completion of the acquisition of Skype. Neil Sims, managing director of Boyden, a head-hunting firm, said that when the company was acquired, the remuneration that employees received through stock options was usually associated with the purchase price, "there will be a loss when the employee leaves the company before the deal is complete."

The two-person source said that the decision to decide which Skype executives were being cut was Silver Lake and several directors. A consortium led by Silver Lake in 2009 bought 70% of Skype's shares to ebay at a price of 2 billion dollars.

Neither Silver Lake nor a Microsoft spokesman commented.

"Like other companies, Skype is constantly evaluating the team structure to provide better products to users," said Blaine Oschonissi, a Skype spokeswoman, Brian O ' Shaughnessy. As part of a recent reorganization of the company, Skype adjusted the management team. ”

Last year, Silver Lake from Cisco dug Tony Beze (Tony Bates), replacing Chosh Silverman (Josh Silverman) as chief executive of Skype. Bates restored the technology-centric features of Skype and launched new features faster. Bates also simplifies the management architecture of Skype and improves decision-making efficiency. Skype planned an IPO (initial public offering) prior to a takeover deal with Microsoft last month.

After the takeover, Microsoft plans to integrate Skype with Outlook e-mail clients, Xbox consoles, Windows mobile phones and corporate phone software.

Gullner, who joined Skype in January 2010, was responsible for marketing Skype services to businesses; Dean was chief strategist during Silverman, helping Skype reach a partnership agreement with Facebook; Albert is in charge of the advertising business.

Skype was founded in 2003 and was purchased by ebay at 2.6 billion dollars in 2006.