Western & Oriental to cut UK staff

(Reuters) - Luxury travel company Western & Oriental on Wednesday said it will cut jobs in the UK, close its German operations and trim its board, as part of efforts to cut costs.

The company, which warned on profits in July, said it is "in the process of consulting with a number of UK employees in relation to their positions which will lead to a reduction in the current level of group staff costs."

It said it expects the reduction in UK staff costs and closure of its German business, together with previous cost-cutting measures, to result in annualised savings of 1.7 million pounds.

Western & Oriental said it no longer needs a finance director after curbing expansion plans and therefore Stephen Hall will step down on September 30 with Executive Chairman David Howell to take on the role.

It added trading remains in line with expectations and said it was entering the new financial year with a current order book in excess of 25 million pounds, compared with 18.9 million at the start of the current year.

(Reporting by Srikanth Srinivasa in Bangalore; Editing by Victoria Bryan)