The big reorganisation of struggling Norwegian minimaker Norsk Data A/S – which warns that it will likely see a first half loss of about $27.5m – leaves no room for Rolf Skar, who guided the company as president and chief executive through all the go-go years that saw an unbroken record of super-fast growth in turnover and profits until its fall from grace some 18 months ago. Skar has resigned to be succeeded by Erik Engebreten, who came on board as chief financial officer in 1987. The firm is to be restructured into a series of independent business units, each of which will be a profit centre with its own managing director. Only a small corporate staff will be retained to oversee corporate development, management and control. Some of the business units will be incorporated as companies, and will seek co-operation and partnerships with other companies, which in some cases may lead to the partner taking a stake in the Norsk subsidiary. Norsk says that first half losses are likely to come out at about $27.5m after a $7.2m extraordinary gain, because of a very poor May.
