Just as the mega-merger between Gamestop and Electronics Boutique was finalized a few days ago, Gamestop announced today that they will be cutting upwards of 575 full-time jobs and 160 temporary and seasonal jobs by the summer of 2006. Most of these jobs will come from the Philadelphia EB headquarters and several warehouses in that area.
While most EB stores should remain un-touched by any further closures, the West Chester headquarters closure is the final stage in the brand removal that will see all retail outlets and buildings under the EB name rebranded under the Gamestop name. Some EB staff have been offered re-location to the Gamestop headquarters in Grapevine, Texas. While no further job losses have been announced, further losses may occur if and when Gamestop consolidates the rest of the retail chain. The new company controls upwards of 42,000 stores, some of which are of course branded with the EB name, and some are literally right next door to Gamestop stores.
According to Gamesindustry.biz four former EB executives are now on the board of directors for Gamestop, but that is the extent of the changes to Gamestop's upper-tier management.
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