CARY – Global Knowledge is shaking up its workforce and operations but won’t talk about whether layoffs are being made or where jobs are being moved.
The privately held provider of information technology training and other services for hundreds of thousands of people worldwide has laid off an unspecified number of workers, according to sources and social media.
WRAL TechWire also was told the company was offshoring jobs.
No mass layoff notice has been filed with the N.C. Department of Commerce.
In response to inquiries from WRAL TechWire about the changes and job reductions, Robin Greer, Global Knowledge’s vice president of worldwide communications acknowledged that changes were being made as part of a review process.
“Global Knowledge is consulting with expert advisors on business improvement projects and on developing an operating model which will drive efficiency and value in the business, success to our customers and opportunity to our employees,” Greer said.
“The project is in its early stages, but we expect to transfer of some routine activities currently undertaken in North America to a new Global Knowledge external center of excellence, enabling our great people to fully focus on our customers’ needs.”
In a followup request for information about where the center would be located and information about layoffs, the company declined to provide any additional further.
Greer did acknowledge centralization of some operations.
“Global Knowledge currently operates in over 100 countries, so it is a logical step to centralize operations to drive efficiency and quality,” Greer said.
“Customers should experience no impact, other than an improving level of service.”
Global Knowledge works with several top tech firms, including Red Hat, Cisco, IBM and Microsoft, according to its website.
Changes in executive suite
Two months ago, William Garrett was named executive vice president and chief financial officer, and moved Jim Gruskin to senior vice president of strategic development and quality.
In 2015, the company replaced long-time leader Brian Branson.
Another senior executive, Greg Roels who was senior vice president, also had left the company as did 10 others, the company acknowledged at that time.
“We require different skills to move forward, to re-skill our organization,” Richard Pryor-Jones, interim CEO at the time, explained. “We are actively recruiting people in Cary and across the rest of the world. We expect to be moving forward with headcount.”
Former Juniper Networks executive Sean Dolan took over as CEO shortly after the changes were made.
Last year, Todd Johnstone was named CEO.
Private equity firm MidOcean Partners acquired Global Knowledge in 2011. In 2014, Rhone Capital bought the firm.
According to the Triangle Book of Lists for 2019, Global Knowledge had 1,350 employees with revenues ranging between $250 million and $499 million a year.
The firm’s website says it has 1,500 workers.
