Q&A: Seagate CEO talks about the Maxtor acquisition

27.12.2005
In a surprise move, Seagate Technology LLC announced last week that it has struck a deal to purchase its chief competitor in the hard disk drive manufacturing market, Maxtor Corp. Bill Watkins, president and CEO of Seagate Technology, spoke with Computerworld after the US$1.9 billion deal was announced about what technology Maxtor brings to the table and what the merger will mean for both companies.

Computerworld: Will this result in layoffs at Maxtor and Seagate?

Bill Watkins: Yes.

CW: Layoffs at both companies or just at Maxtor?

Watkins: You could make the argument it might be more on their side. But it's too early for us to tell you who's going to go.

CW: What does Maxtor bring to the table considering this is a company that has been losing money?