Opera lost 10% of staff due to the transition to WebKit

Norwegian company Opera Software has completed the biggest reduction in its 18-year history, disbanding Core Technology Division, which develops browser engine Presto, writes the Norwegian edition Digi.no . As a result, the company’s staff following the results of IV quarter. 2012 decreased from 931 to 840 people.

Unfortunately, after the news of the transition to WebKit, many programmers voluntarily left the company in October-November. Company director Lars Boilesen said in an interview with TNWthat about half of the 90 departed employees are developers. Some of the leading programmers at Core Technology moved to other departments within the firm, while others helped management find a new job in the Norwegian companies in the IT sector, with severance pay.

The cost of restructuring only in the IV quarter. 2012 amounted to $ 7.8 million, but the savings from switching to WebKit will repeatedly cover these costs. In general, Opera is doing very well, last year it earned 1.2 billion kroons ($ 217 million), and in 2013 it hopes to increase its staff to the previous level.



CEO Lars Boylensen (pictured) in yet another interview with Digi.noexplained that after the restructuring, Opera’s main priorities will be development for iOS and Android, although the company intends to continue releasing browsers for all existing platforms. Moreover, Lars Boylensen announced plans to launch a new desktop browser in the second quarter of 2013. Previously, Opera Ice was also announced for iOS and Android tablets.