Redken Fires 50 Workers in Headquarters Shake-Up

Redken Laboratories said it dismissed 50 workers at its Canoga Park headquarters as part of a restructuring that included the departure of a senior executive. Solomon R. Mester, Redken president, said the fired workers included executives, engineers, secretaries and sales personnel.

Under the restructuring, the company’s marketing and research operations were merged and various financial operations were consolidated. Redken’s senior vice president for administration, Lee Quaintance, was also dismissed and his position eliminated.

Mester said the result will be a leaner operation that has more departments reporting directly to him. He said high severance costs, however, will prevent the company from realizing substantial savings immediately.

Before the cutbacks, Redken had about 1,000 employees, Mester said.