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<\/p>\nUK-headquartered consumer goods giant Unilever on Tuesday announced a major organisational shakeup to make the company leaner, which involves some of its Indian-origin executives, and plans to lay off 1,500 staff as part of the wider restructuring of its global operations.<\/p>\n
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Sanjiv Mehta retains executive leadership of Mumbai-headquartered subsidiary Hindustan Unilever, while Unilever chief operating officer (COO) Nitin Paranjpe will take on a new role as chief transformation officer & chief people officer, leading the business transformation and heading the HR function for the transformed organisation.<\/p>\n
The company said Sunny Jain, president of beauty & personal care, has decided to leave Unilever to set up an “investment fund in technology megatrends”.<\/p>\n
“A lean Unilever Corporate Centre will continue to set Unilever’s overall strategy,” the company said.<\/p>\n
The worldwide changes are part of the company’s move away from its current “matrix structure” to be organised around five distinct business groups: beauty & wellbeing, personal care, home care, nutrition, and ice cream.<\/p>\n
Each business group will be fully responsible and accountable for their strategy, growth, and profit delivery globally, the company said.<\/p>\n
“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,” said Unilever CEO Alan Jope.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Growth remains our top priority and these changes will underpin our pursuit of this,” he said.<\/p>\n
The maker of Dove soap and Pond’s in India has also confirmed plans to cut 1,500 jobs under the wider shakeup of its global operations.<\/p>\n
“The proposed new organisation model will result in a reduction in senior management roles of around 15 per cent and more junior management roles by 5 per cent, equivalent to around 1,500 roles globally.<\/p>\n
“Changes will be subject to consultation. We do not expect factory teams to be impacted by these changes,” the company said.<\/p>\n
The firm, which employs 149,000 worldwide – 6,000 of them in the UK and Ireland – has not revealed exactly where the job cuts would be made.<\/p>\n
The move is seen as a response to shareholders’ concerns about performance in the business and followed a failed takeover bid for GlaxoSmithKline’s consumer healthcare division.<\/p>\n
All costs related to setting up the new organisation will be managed within existing restructuring investment plans, the company said.<\/p>\n
The five business groups will be supported by Unilever Business Operations, which will provide the technology, systems, and processes to drive operational excellence across the business.<\/p>\n
Among the appointments effective from April this year, Fernando Fernandez, EVP Latin America, has been appointed President of beauty & wellbeing, which includes hair care, skin care, as well as vitamins, minerals and supplements, and Unilever Prestige.<\/p>\n
Fabian Garcia, president North America, has been appointed president Personal Care, responsible for skin cleansing, deodorants, and oral care.<\/p>\n
Peter ter Kulve will continue in his role as president Home Care, responsible for fabric care, home & hygiene, and water & air.<\/p>\n
Hanneke Faber, president Foods & Refreshment, has been appointed president Nutrition, which will be home to scratch cooking, healthy snacking, functional nutrition, plant-based meat, and food solutions.<\/p>\n
Matt Close, EVP Ice Cream, has been appointed president Ice Cream, a Business Group in its own right.<\/p>\n
Reginaldo Ecclissato, chief supply chain officer, will lead the supply chain and Unilever Business Operations as chief business operations officer.<\/p>\n