TOP NEWS: Under pressure Unilever to cut 1,500 jobs amid restructure

(Alliance News) - Unilever PLC on Tuesday announced significant changes to its business model, ...

Alliance News 25 January, 2022 | 9:56AM
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(Alliance News) - Unilever PLC on Tuesday announced significant changes to its business model, which is expected to lead to the cutting of 1,500 jobs at both a senior and junior management level.

The FTSE 100 consumer goods maker is facing pressure from activist shareholders to improve its performance, following its failed attempt to buy the consumer healthcare business of GlaxoSmithKline PLC.

Unilever, made no mention of the GSK bid in its announcement on Tuesday, said it will shed its current matrix structure and become organised around five business groups: Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition, and Ice Cream.

Each group will take responsibility for their own strategy and growth; however they will be supported by Unilever Business Operations, which will provide technological support and services.

Executive Vice President of Latin America Fernando Fernandez will become president of Beauty & Wellbeing, while North America President Fabian Garcia will head Personal Care.

Hanneke Faber will become president of Nutrition, and Matt Close will become president of the Ice Cream unit.

In addition, Chief Operating Officer Nitin Paranjpe will take on a new role as chief transformation officer & chief people officer. Meanwhile, Chief Supply Chain Officer Reginaldo Ecclissato will take charge of the supply chain and Unilever Business Operations as chief business operations officer.

These executive changes will take effect from April 1.

Unilever said that the new organisation model will lead to a reduction in senior management roles by 15% and junior management roles by 5%, equal to 1,500 jobs. However, factory teams are not anticipated to be affected by these changes.

On Thursday, Unilever had said it would not increase its bid for GSK Consumer Healthcare above GBP50 billion, after three offers were rejected by the pharmaceutical group.

Unilever had said its interest in GSK Consumer Healthcare followed an extensive process reviewing how the group can reposition its portfolio into higher growth categories.

Earlier in January, the group said this review found that Unilever should turn its direction more towards the Health, Beauty and Hygiene categories, which are expected to offer higher rates of market growth, and new opportunities to drive growth through investment.

In November, Unilever agreed to sell its tea business ekaterra to CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII for EUR4.5 billion.

"Our new organisational model has been developed over the last year and is designed to continue the step-up we are seeing in the performance of our business. Moving to five category-focused business groups will enable us to be more responsive to consumer and channel trends, with crystal-clear accountability for delivery. Growth remains our top priority and these changes will underpin our pursuit of this," Chief Executive Officer Alan Jope said on Tuesday.

Shares in Unilever were down 0.1% at 3,940.26 pence on Tuesday in London.

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Unilever PLC 4,133.00 GBX 1.25
GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1,653.00 GBX 0.76

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