Google Google slashes jobs at Waze
Search engine giant Google has said it has decided to slash jobs at its Waze mapping service since it is merging the unit with its own map products.
In an email to employees on Tuesday, Chris Phillips, who oversees Google’s maps division called Geo, said the company is shifting its Waze strategy to include Google ads rather than using a separate ads system. That move will result in layoffs, according to the email, which was viewed by CNBC.
“We have decided to transition Waze’s ads monetization to be managed by the Global Business Organization (GBO), similar to Google Maps,” Phillips wrote. “Unfortunately, this will result in a reduction of Waze Ads monetization-focused roles in sales, marketing, operations and analytics.”
The company hopes to “create a more scalable and optimized Waze Ads product,” Phillips wrote, adding that it will “wind down the current Waze Ads product while we focus on building new Waze Ads powered by Google Ads.”
Phillips said the company would be notifying advertisers and partners of the change on Wednesday, and told employees that his team will answer questions and share its plans for next steps at “our next Waze Town Hall” on July 11.
However, the exact number of employees who will be removed from their jobs is still not clear.
The Waze unit has more than 500 employees, according to internal documentation viewed by CNBC. Google acquired Waze for about $1.3 billion in 2013.
Google's parent company Alphabet announced in January that it would remove 12,000 employees.
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