Malwarebytes: Layoffs Come Amid Shift To ‘Channel-First Approach’
The cybersecurity vendor has ‘added significant partner relationships across the regions,’ the company said in a statement from CEO Marcin Kleczynski.
Malwarebytes CEO Marcin Kleczynski
Malwarebytes recently laid off staff in connection with the cybersecurity vendor’s move to a “channel-first approach” for its sales strategy, the company said in a statement to CRN Tuesday.
The statement followed a report from TechCrunch that Malwarebytes had cut at least 100 employees in August.
[Related: Cybersecurity Layoffs In 2023: Companies That Cut Jobs In Q3]
In response to an inquiry by CRN, Malwarebytes provided a statement attributed to Co-Founder and CEO Marcin Kleczynski confirming that there have been cutbacks.
“In continuing our shift to a channel-first approach and streamlining our corporate business, we’ve parted ways with a number of very talented individuals,” the statement from Kleczynski reads. “While an undeniably difficult decision, we are building for the future.”
Malwarebytes “continues to be healthy and profitable,” according to the statement. “We’ve added significant partner relationships across the regions, we launched a managed detection and response service that is bringing a ton of value to IT constrained organizations, we recently acquired an online privacy leader for our consumer portfolio and hired a general manager of that business.”
Ultimately, “we are now set up for a future that accelerates our growth and best serves our customers, both consumers and organizations,” Kleczynski said in the statement.
The recent Malwarebytes layoffs impacted as many as 110 employees, according to TechCrunch.
The cuts reportedly came after three top executives at the vendor — its chief product officer, chief information officer and chief technology officer — were recently let go.
In August 2022, Malwarebytes had eliminated 125 positions, or 14 percent of its staff.
The TechCrunch report indicated that the new layoffs are part of a restructuring that will split the company’s corporate-focused security business from its consumer unit. The move will be announced in coming weeks, according to the report.