Jobs go at Systems.
freecom.net's energetic assault on the IT sector may lead to
The UK operation of Systems Union is under pressure after staff were offered voluntary redundancy following its #32m acquisition by freecom.net.
Systems Union, the author of Sun Systems’ business for the mid-market, approved the deal, made up of 7.8 million shares and #7m, last month.
But now, staff at the Systems Union offices in Hampshire – some of whom recently relocated from London, following an office out of the capital – have been told to consider the offer.
It is understood freecom.net is interested in continuing Systems Union leading accountancy software range Sun Systems under its own brand, but it is unclear how many redundancies will be made during the next month.
Company officials said it was inevitable that ‘rationalisation’ would take place following the takeover but refused to comment further. Meanwhile, the effects of freecom.net’s expansion are being felt elsewhere in the sector.
Pegasus Group former managing directors Chris Leak and David Hewitt have left the company – just weeks after its acquisition by freecom.net.
Leak was understood to be planning to quit Pegasus in October but the date was moved forward by mutual consent following the acquisition. He has moved to Pegasus reseller Dragnet as a consultant.
Hewitt was expected to remain within Pegasus but was subsequently ‘prioritised’ to a position within freecom.net.
They have been replaced by Paul White, former head of channel operations at Systems Union. White said: ‘I’ll be working with the Pegasus management team, our customers and partners to develop an integrated business strategy to drive Pegasus forward.
‘Our objective is to see the company play a key role in the development of freecom.net’s e-commerce-enabled offering for the UK business sector.
‘I have sensed the company did not have clear goals before the acquisition and that is something we will address,’ he added.