PLM software co Dassault cutting half its Israel staff

Sources inform "Globes" that French PLM (product life cycle management) application software developer Dassault Systemes is substantially cutting operations at its Israel center. The company, which has 170 employees at its Israel development center, and in sales and support for the country, will notify half of the staff that they are being fired in the next few days. Dassault is currently conducting hearings for 86 of its Israel staff.

Dassault's presence in Israel dates back to 1999 when it acquired SmarTeam for $35 million, which it used as a base for a development center and local sales managed by Alex Zeltcer. According to Zeltcer, Dassault is making the cuts in Israel as part of its plans to develop the next generation V6 systems platform.

Zeltcer said, "Part of the reason for these measures is the unifying of development efforts by the company's two major centers in Paris and Boston. What will remain in Israel will be sales, maintenance and development activities for the previous generation, which is what was acquired a decade ago.

Zeltcer claims that at present there are no plans to end current development activities in Israel and that the sales center is being expanded.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 30, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009