Guardian: Microsoft is closing the offices of Skype in London

The office of Skype in the United Kingdom, one of the biggest company in the world, is expected to close, according to a story in the Guardian…
The English newspaper on the order of the story in the Financial Times, who estimate that the move of the owners of Microsoft will result in the loss of 400 jobs in central London.
These companies are valued at 1 billion. dollars in Europe, and if you reduce their presence in London, will be yet another blow to the effort of the United Kingdom to establish itself as an attractive option after the Brexit.
Contacted about this story, Microsoft confirmed that worldwide businesses of Skype and Yammer are at risk as part of a plan of transfer of staff from the London headquarters, Paddington.
“As part of this effort, Microsoft has revised some places in London and took the decision to consolidate some engineering positions,” said a representative.
“We are deeply committed to doing everything we can to help those who will be affected by the specific process, Microsoft will offer new opportunities, where this is possible” fill-in-the same.
New these come to be added to the discouraging signs for the british technology industry, which hosts 18 of the 47 offices of the company in Europe.
Russ Shaw, former vice-chairman of Skype until acquired by the technology giant in California for 8.5 billion. dollars in 2011, featured the particular move from the current base in Holborn, as disappointing.
“Skype is a technological enterprise of Europe with amazing innovation and talent,” reported the FT, and added that “now that London is trying hard to create a strong base of global technology entrepreneurship, this decision is a step in the wrong direction”.
A former employee argued, however, that this move was not a surprise, because a lot of people who were in the Skype, had already been replaced.
“Skype is a shell of the company it once was and it’s always the big decisions of Microsoft for Skype were for Europe and for the headquarters of the united states in Redmond,” said the official, whereas “now it will be a company under the leadership of Microsoft in Redmond, and not an independent Skype”.
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