Wayne,
N.J. – JVC America laid off an unspecified number of U.S. employees last
Friday, but no more layoffs are planned right now, a spokesman told TWICE.
The
layoffs occurred in JVC’s headquarters here and in other branches.
,
the company also laid off an unspecified number of U.S. employees, and in April
2009, JVC America
combined
three U.S. sales companies
and its U.S. service company into one unit, eliminating
about 15 percent of the U.S. workforce, including open positions that were not
filled.
As part of the most recent
layoffs, the company merged its consumer audio division and consumer display
division into the home entertainment division. Consumer display VP Michael
Holmes took on the title of home entertainment division VP.
, Steve Howcott, general manager of JVC’s consumer audio
division, left the company.
JVC has been scaling back its U.S. home audio
presence in recent years, having dropped out of the AV receiver market several
years ago and, this year, scaling back its HTiB product selection.
The
layoffs follow an announcement in Tokyo last week that JVC and Kenwood would
soon
to cut costs by establishing a new company that merges their
current holding company, JVC Kenwood Holdings, with Victor Co. of Japan (JVC);
Kenwood Corp., which makes home audio and communications equipment, and J&K
Car Electronics Corp., which sells JVC and Kenwood car audio.