Ing C Olivetti and Co yestreday duly presented its rationalisation plans to Italy’s three major trades unions, and observers say that up to 5,000 jobs may go (CI No 1,833). Over 3,000 employees have taken early retirement since December 30, and a further 500 have transferred into the public sector (CI No 1,815), but general awareness of Olivetti’s troubles may make the unions more sympathetic to Carlo de Benedetti’s plight. The reorganisation is to take effect on January 15 with Elserino Piol heading Information Technologies and Office. Both will retain their own manufacturing, development and research budgets, but they will no longer have the same autonomy and will be run by Mauro Righetti, formerly senior vice-president of Olivetti Systems & Networks, alongside Marco de Benedetti. Commercial activities will be split into five geographic regions, all of which will report to Piol. Also from January 15, Diversified Activities will include Triumph-Adler GmbH in Germany and Acorn Computers Plc here, while Public Contracts will handle exclusively Italian government business. Olivetti Information Services continues in its present form.
