Infogroup begins round of layoffs, more cutbacks possible

Database services company Infogroup began a round of layoffs today across functions and across US offices, Infogroup CEO Clare Hart told Direct Marketing News on June 30. An item in the Omaha World-Herald reported 140 Infogroup employees would be let go today, but Hart denied the number.

“The Omaha World-Herald is misinformed,” she said. “The person they are quoting was not a company spokesperson.”

She would not reveal, however, whether the number was more or less than the number reported in the World-Herald. She did say the number of people let go would be a “small percentage of the Infogroup population.”

Hart would also not say whether the layoffs would end after this round.

“You can't ever say redundancies are over,” she said. “But you'll see more releases about us hiring people than laying people off.”

No one on the leadership team was laid off, and Hart would not reveal whether anyone in a marketing function was let go.

“We won't get specific about any functional group,” she said.

Infogroup removed Mike Hilts, president of its interactive unit, and Tim Price, the unit's SVP of sales and marketing, from their positions on May 9.

The redundancies are a product of Infogroup's recent consolidation of its disparate business units.

“The units were never fully integrated,” explained Hart. “They were companies that competed with one another. It became clear that people sitting next to each other are doing the same thing.”

For a recent Q&A with Hart, click here.