To an extent, I can understand why they don't want to pay a DMM 200+ to people manage. They can pay an Ops Manager considerably less than that to sign the leave forms and fwd the odd email and he can also be "accountable"
I think this is one of the main problems with this place, ie: People not knowing exactly what a role entails, and writing them off an encumbrance due to their ignorance. And secondly, making assumptions and spreading gossip that such roles are on the chopping block.
I can assure you that the role of DMM in dept's other than SAM goes way beyond leave and people management, and no I am not priviledged enough to be a DMM.