16 March 2006 | Anusha Bradley
British Airways' procurement department is to join up with accounts processing as part of a cost-cutting restructure.
In November the airline announced its plan to halve the number of senior managers in all departments, including purchasing, and cut middle managers by a third. Now, more details are emerging about how the decision will affect procurement.
The number of senior procurement managers will drop from 12 to seven. They will be joined by one senior accounts processing manager to form a combined team.
Silla Maizey, BA procurement director, will head the merged departments from 31 March. She will continue to report to the finance director.
A BA spokeswoman said: "Procurement will now oversee the money coming in and going out of the organisation."
She said the five senior purchasing managers who have lost their jobs can apply for finance positions at the firm, but could not say how many positions were available. Some were given the option of accepting voluntary redundancy.
A total of 83 middle managers - 73 from purchasing and 10 from accounts processing - will work in the combined department. BA is looking to shed a third of them by March 2008. However, these plans are dependent on negotiations with unions.
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