MySpace to lose international MD amid global cutbacks

Katz oversaw 450 staff across MySpace and Fox Interactive Media properties, including about 40 in the UK. News of his departure follows MySpace's announcement last week that it will cut 420 jobs in the US, leaving 1,000 domestic staff.

MySpace today announced plans to restructure its international operations. The proposed restructuring plan, subject to consultation with international employees in certain countries, applies to all international divisions of the company. It will reduce MySpace’s international staff headcount from 450 employees to approximately 150 employees and will lead to the closure of at least four of its offices outside the US.

MySpace said London, Berlin, and Sydney would become the primary regional hubs for MySpace’s international operations. Under the proposed plan, MySpace would place all existing offices in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, and Spain under review.

MySpace was recently surpassed by rival Facebook in worldwide unique visitors for the first time. In May, Facebook pulled in 123.9 - million visitors and 50.6 billion page views, compared with MySpace's 114.6 million visitors and 45.4 ¬billion page views, according to comScore.
MySpace declined to comment.