Unilever, the manufacturing giant of leading brands in foods, home and personal care, is set to cut its senior management by 50 per cent.
The announcement is part of a drive to produce a “leaner, simpler” business that it says will generate significant savings that it promises to invest in its brands.
Job losses will also be felt in the sales and marketing department with a third phase aimed at changes to the supporting functions over 2008. The move will culminate in the co-location of three existing offices to Leatherhead, Surrey with closures of offices in Crawley, Sussex and in Walton-on-Thames and Kingston upon Thames.
Dave Lewis, chairman of Unilever’s UK operating business, said: “The fortunes of our business have improved recently. The next change accelerates our transformation and affords us the opportunity to grow more consistently and rapidly. The organisation will retain its deep brand and category knowledge, but will be simpler and faster with a greater emphasis on our retail customers.”
