James E Boone, president of the Americas at headhunter Korn/Ferry International, is leaving the firm. His departure is part of an effort to flatten themanagement structure, the company said.

Responsibility for the North America and Latin America regions, which contain 32 offices, will be assumed by the regional heads of the Americas. Boone also chaired Korn/Ferry’s global operating committee.

The firm’s chairman and CEO praised Boone’s for leading Korn/Ferry “through one of the toughest recruitment markets in history.” Boone’s future plans have not been announced.

In August 2001, the company announced that it was axing 500 employees, a fifth of its workforce.

The company is believed to have made many more redundancies since then.