Satyam Australia down 200 heads

Satyam confirmed this morning that its headcount had been reduced by 200 from its Australian operations since last year.

Last year the number of Australian employees had sat at around 1000, while this year it only reached 800, a spokesperson for the company said.

The number of employees supporting Australia in India had also been reduced, according to the spokesperson from 700 to around 400 to 500 employees.

The spokesperson didn't name any reasons for the contraction, but it has been public knowledge that Satyam has had a rough ride over the last few months after a scandal where it was revealed that the company's former chairman B. Ramalinga Raju had been doctoring the company's books. "For us it is very much business as unusual," T. R. Anand, director, senior VP and head of the Asia-Pacific region told ZDNet.com.au yesterday.

Anand added that the economic crisis had put pressure on all industries, although Australia was a more optimistic market than others. "We are not going to expand and grow in an economy which is shrinking," he said.

Satyam has just announced a new country manager for Australia and New Zealand, Venki Prathivadi. He replaced Deepak Nangia who it was announced this morning has been appointed to a position within technology consultant Capgemini as the managing director for its "New Business" division.

"Deepak's strong experience in technology services and transformational outsourcing is almost without peer in Australia. His innovative strategy development and commercial approach will let us enhance the value we provide to our clients," Paul Thorley, CEO Capgemini Australia said.