More than 2,000 jobs are to be axed at Pilkington plants across Europe as Paolo Scaroni, the companys new chief executive, launches a drive to make it the worlds lowest cost glassmaker. An accelerated cost-cutting programme will target the groups 11 European flat glass plants, with the goal of reducing the average staff of 260 by 100.
Management of the UK-based group will be streamlined and reorganised. The company will also review prospects for its 220 glass-processing businesses, many of them bought by Roger Leverton, the previous chief executive.
He was ousted in a boardroom coup two weeks ago to make room for Scaronis elevation from head of Pilkingtons automotive business after the board decided restructuring was going too slowly. Scaroni said Pilkington would concentrate on clarifying our management structure and reducing the overheads which are killing us.
He also said that union agreement had been reached on a plan to shed 1,000 workers from Pilkingtons automotive glass operation, 17 per cent of the workforce. The outline of Mr Scaronis strategy was revealed yesterday alongside sharply reduced profits for the year to March 31. Underlying pre-tax profits fell 38 per cent to
