Turner International to Cut Europe, Middle East, Africa Staff by 30 Percent

2:35 AM PST 1/15/2013 by Georg Szalai

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A restructuring of the Time Warner TV networks business in the region, led by TBS International head Gerhard Zeiler, will cut back on central functions.

LONDON -- Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting System International unit said Tuesday that it plans to cut about 30 percent of the staff in its Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) business as part of a restructuring that will give more power to regions and cut back on central functions.

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The company's overall EMEA business includes about 900 positions, so about 250-plus positions are expected to be eliminated in the restructuring.

Gerhard Zeiler, president of TBS International, unveiled the organizational shake-up. "Some functions, which can be handled externally at the same quality, will be outsourced," the company said. It didn't detail the annual savings from the cuts.

Turner International said it anticipates the 30 percent reduction in positions across the EMEA business to become effective upon completion of a consultation process with staff representatives. "This estimation comprises open headcount, positions that became vacant and are not being reoccupied, redundancies and outsourcing," it said without detailing the likely timing of the moves.

The decisions are part of a review process for its EMEA business that Turner International launched in September.

“This review required us taking some tough decisions, but they are absolutely necessary to put Turner International in the best possible position for future growth,” said Zeiler. “Greater empowerment and broader accountability for local management will lead to simplified processes throughout the organization, improved efficiency and reduced costs.”

Turner Broadcasting System International operates more than 100 channels that are versions of core Turner brands, such as CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies, in more than 30 languages in 200 countries around the world. Turner's EMEA business has 17 branded channels in 27 languages in more than 100 territories.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai