Pilkington Reshuffles Management And Cuts Its Losses

Pillkington is to shed 2000 jobs at sites across Europe as part of an accelerated cost-cutting exercise. New chief executive, Italian Paolo Scaroni plans to cut average staff numbers down to 100 from 260 and to streamline the UK management structure. Mr Scaroni replaced Mr Leverton who was driven out of office in May by the company's non-executive directors, led by chairman Sir Nigel Rudd. Although Mr Leverton still had two years left to run on his contract, it is thought that the non-executive directors felt the speed of restructuring was too slow. The future of the company's 220 glass-processing business is also to be reviewed and consolidated. Plans have also been agreed to cut 1000 jobs from the company's automotive operations.