Metro International cuts US jobs amid sale talk

LONDON - The freesheet bubble appears to have burst in the US as publisher Metro International makes 27 employees, around a fifth of the workforce, redundant at its three Metro US editions, amid speculation it is preparing to sell them.

Earlier this week, the US editor-in-chief Jon Auerbach left the company and the publishers of Metro Boston and Metro New York, a joint venture with The New York Times, resigned.

According to reports from rival US papers, Metro International has put its US portfolio, which includes Metro Philadelphia, up for sale. Some believe The New York Times could acquire the remainder of Metro New York and Metro Boston, where it also owns the Boston Globe.

Per Mikael Jensen, chief executive of Metro International, told Brand Republic he would not comment on the reports, which he described as "rumours".

According to Jensen, the job cuts affected 15%-20% of Metro's US workforce and will help the company work more efficiently with a central desk and satellite system, as in its other operations.

Metro has sent Robert Patterson, its London-based executive vice-president, to implement the measures in the US. Patterson was unavailable to comment at the time of publication.

In a statement put out yesterday by Metro announcing the 27 redundancies, Patterson said: "These measures are part of a comprehensive plan to move all of Metro International's US operations to profitability. With this cost-efficient set-up we have established a platform from which we can continue to develop Metro in the US."

The company has lost over $10m (£5.05m) in the past 12 months on its US operation, according to its results.

Metro International commenced a strategic review of its operations in October last year, in the same month it reported a third quarter loss of $18.2m.

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Market Reports.

Find out more

Enjoying ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s content?

 Get unlimited access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s premium content for your whole company with a corporate licence.

Upgrade access

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an alert now

Partner content