'We have shown we can do hard things as a company.' Vimeo sacks 11% staff, CEO Anjali Sud urges others to 'come together with humanity'

Video software company Vimeo hit headlines on Wednesday night after it announced that it is laying off 11 per cent of its staff, triggered by an “uncertain economic environment”.

Vimeo Chief Executive Officer Anjali Sud on Wednesday sent out an email to the staff in which she promised to reach out directly to offer her assistance to those impacted by the cuts.

"For those leaving us: we are so grateful for your contributions and will make every effort to support you. I will be reaching out directly to offer my assistance," Sud said in her email.


Sud, a US citizen of Indian descent, became a poster girl in corporate American when Vimeo made its Nasdaq debut in May 2021. The image of Sud, nattily attired in a pink pant suit and looking ecstatic as she lent hope to millions of women waiting to make a splash in the cubicle, circulated on the Internet. She was lauded for making bold moves, with some tech watchers even going to the extent of drawing comparisons with behemoth YouTube.


On Wednesday, though, the euphoria of May 2021 was gone as Sud was more circumspect, writing of the "very hard decision that impacts each of us deeply" in her mail to the staff.

"We have demonstrated time and again that we can do hard things as a company. I am proud of our agility and resilience, but I also know that what we need right now is to come together with humanity," she went on to add.

The latest round of cuts in Vimeo comes roughly six months after the company slashed about 6 per cent of its staff in July. Since then, Sud said that while the video software company has sought to reduce its expenses outside of headcount costs, the firm has “seen a further deterioration in economic conditions, in the form of prolonged geopolitical conflict, rising interest rates, and global recession fears.”

“We are entering 2023 with a more focused strategy to simplify Vimeo, and ultimately, our team size and composition needs to reflect that focus,” Sud said. “This reduction enables us to achieve our growth and profitability goals in a way that is far less dependent on the broader market, putting us in full control of our destiny.”

The video software company employed 1,219 full-time employees as of Dec. 2021, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.