Unilever UK accelerates 'One Unilever' programme
The first phase, to be implemented immediately, will be to restructure the top layers of management in the business, reducing the number of roles by 50%. This will be followed by an accelerated change in the rest of the sales and marketing organisation by the end of 2007 and a third phase that will see changes to the supporting functions phased over 2008, culminating in the co-location of ourthree existing offices together in one place – Leatherhead, Surrey. It is anticipated that the business will reduce the number of roles by between 300 and 350 in total by the end of 2008.
These moves will result in a leaner, simpler business focused on delivering brilliant consumer and shopper insight and category innovation to our retail customers. It will also generate significant savings enabling the businessto increase investment behind its brands.
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.
To achieve this, the organisation will be dedicated to delivering against two essential tasks – one; taking the brand work developed by the central marketing teams and executing it brilliantly in the UK marketplace and two; working more closely with retail partners to fully exploit the opportunities that exist in the categories that we both work in.”
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