June 05, 1998

FDS Confirms 98 Job Layoffs

As part of its reorganization to better meet customer needs, First Data Solutions (FDS), Omaha, NE, has refocused its business into three segments and cut its work force by 98 employees, or 11 percent. Marketing communications director Donna Pennington confirmed last week that the positions were eliminated May 15. FDS also has streamlined its data compilation, processing services, database marketing and online services divisions into the marketing information services, online products and catalog marketplace segments. FDS is one of four companies in the Information Management Group under parent company First Data Corp., Hackensack, NJ. "We are tying all the pieces of the information group together to provide an optimum solution for direct marketers and mailers," said FDS senior vice president Michael Morreale. "We had lost presence in the marketplace, but not position.'' FDS will go forward without Mike Geppert, senior vice president of strategic business, who announced his resignation effective June 5 to join American Business Information.