As the result of a recent merger between the two entities, NBCUniversal is cutting 200 jobs at DreamWorks Animation’s Glendale campus, TheWrap has learned.
Jeff Shell, chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, made the announcement on Thursday in a memo obtained by TheWrap (below).
Shell indicated the positions will be cut in areas in which DreamWorks overlaps with its new parent company, saying the employees who work in corporate overhead groups and distribution and consumer products will be affected.
These are “areas where we can fully integrate operations with NBCUniversal,” Shell said in the memo.
NBCUniversal’s parent company Comcast announced its finalized acquisition of DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion on Aug. 22. The next day, a new executive lineup at DreamWorks was announced, with the feature animation group being led by newly installed co-presidents, Bonnie Arnold and Mireille Soria.
The following is Shell’s full memo:
Subject: A Message From Jeff Shell
Dear Colleagues:
As we move along in the process of integrating our companies, the leadership team will continually evaluate the needs of our business to ensure we are best positioned to meet our goal of being a leader in premium animation content across all platforms. As indicated on Day One, we remain committed to transparency and, over the next few months, will communicate about any changes expected as a part of the integration with NBCUniversal.
To that end, today we have begun sharing organizational decisions that will result in the elimination of approximately 200 positions at our Glendale campus. These changes are focused in the corporate overhead groups as well as distribution and consumer products, areas where we can fully integrate operations with NBCUniversal.
Those who will be impacted by these decisions will be notified this week and many will be working with us over the next several months as a part of the transition. These are difficult but necessary moves as we work to integrate our organizations and we will be as generous as possible to those who will be leaving the company.
We know you will join us in supporting your colleagues during this time of transition and we too will be exploring other opportunities for them and providing career placement counseling to help minimize the impact.
Looking forward, we are excited about the incredible opportunities ahead for our combined organization and we will work together to make them a reality.
Thanks for your continued hard work,
[Jeff Shell]