Updated at 3:48 p.m.: An E! spokesperson confirmed that five employees were laid off Tuesday.
Previously…
As many as 10 employees were laid off today at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, affecting departments at E! and Esquire, an individual familiar with the cuts told TheWrap.
Staffers from the unit that handles marketing and sales for both cable channels were given pink slips, according to the insider. The changes came on the heels of an executive shakeup also announced Tuesday by division chairman Bonnie Hammer.
In a memo to staff announcing an executive shuffle, Hammer named Sandra Schron, former marketing VP at USA Networks, as SVP of Marketing Production across cable entertainment. The realignment, Hammer said, will see existing marketing staff relocate to the team of NBCUniversal ad sales chairman Linda Yaccarino.
Similar cuts were effected cuts last June, when almost 7 percent of the workforce was reduced at E! Network’s news, digital and marketing teams along with Esquire marketing.
Hammer charged USA president Chris McCumber with oversight of Syfy and smaller networks Chiller and Cloo. Syfy president Dave Howe was promoted to president of strategy and growth for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.
The executive made a similar move when naming Frances Berwick head of Bravo, Oxygen, E! and Esquire in 2014.