Unilever has announced plans to reduce a third of its office roles in Europe by the end of 2025.
The cuts are part of a strategic initiative led by CEO Hein Schumacher to rejuvenate the company’s growth.
This decision follows a period of underperformance that has drawn the attention of shareholders, including billionaire activist investor and board member Nelson Peltz.
Since assuming his role last year, Schumacher has been committed to streamlining Unilever’s operations.
In October, he unveiled a comprehensive strategy to regain investor trust and revitalise the company’s performance.
In a conference call, Unilever informed its senior executives up to 3,200 office positions in Europe would be eliminated by the end of 2025.
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A Unilever spokesperson said: “We are now, over the next few weeks, starting the consultation process with employees who may be impacted by the proposed changes.”
The planned job cuts are part of a broader productivity programme announced in March.
This included up to 7,500 layoffs globally.
Constantina Tribou, Unilever’s chief human resources officer, said: “The expected net impact in roles in Europe between now and the end of 2025 is in the range of 3,000 to 3,200 roles.”
Hermann Soggeberg, head of Unilever’s European Works Council, said: “These measures mean the biggest job cuts in Unilever for decades.”
As part of its restructuring efforts, Unilever has taken significant steps to reshape its business.
In March, the company announced plans to spin off its ice cream division.
The department includes popular brands like Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s.
