Gluon provided converged local switching and access systems for local telecommunications service providers. The company ceased operations despite raising $76m in venture capital funding since 1999.
In November 2002, it axed 16 jobs, leaving it with 101 employees. In December 2002, it emerged that CEO Jo Anne Miller had sent round a memo encouraging its employees to do everything it takes, including postponing December vacations so the company could hit a January 20, 2003 product deadline. Shortly after sending the memo, it was revealed that she flew to Hawaii for a six-day vacation.
If that wasn’t bad enough for staff morale, the memo also went on to add, now more than ever, the Gluon team must have the start-up/do whatever it takes mentality. If any of you are not of that mentality… tell me… and I will do whatever I can to assist you to find a job outside of Gluon.
Rob Avery, VP of marketing, later said that the memo was only meant to be encouraging, not threatening. It seems however that Miller didn’t survive long after that, and she resigned in February 2003. Then in November 2003, Gluon cut another 40 people, leaving it with 75 employees, half the size it was in 2001. December saw CFO Rich Yonker jumping ship and headcount falling to about 65 people.
This article is based on material originally published by ComputerWire.
