Retailer Massmart makes senior marketing leadership appointment
Charmagne Mazhindu becomes Vice-President of Marketing for Wallmart-owned group that includes major brands such as Makro and Builders.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Consumer goods giant Unilever is set to cut jobs worldwide
By our News Team | 2022
Company with some of the world’s best-known FMCG brands is under pressure after delivering poor business performance last year.
International consumer good company Unilever has announced that it will be cutting 1 500 management jobs in its operations around the world.
The jobs are in junior and senior management in various unnamed countries. The move is believed to be in response to Unilever’s poor business performance last year and consequent pressure from investors.
Unilever has also been publicly criticised over a failed big-money bid for a division of GlaxoSmithKline, which it hoped would help deliver more sales and bottom-line value.
Unilever employs almost 150 000 people and is headquartered in the United Kingdom. In its stable are some of the world’s best-known brands. These include Marmite, Dove soap, Knorr, Lipton, Omo and Domestos. It has around 400 brands in all.
Photo by Tamorlan via Wikimedia Commons
Over-emphasis on brand purpose and sustainability
Recently the company was also criticised by a prominent British investor for a claimed over-emphasis on sustainability and brand-purpose strategies. This, the investor said, was harming its business performance.
As part of the shake-up, Unilever is to be reorganised around five areas: beauty & wellbeing, personal care, home care, nutrition and ice-cream. Each business group will be responsible for its own strategy, growth and profit delivery globally.
Currently, Unilever’s brands operate in three divisions: beauty & personal care, foods & refreshment, and home care.
“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 Chief Executive, Alan Jope.
“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.”
Coke campaign encourages sharing meals and better work-life balance
The Coca Cola Company has unveiled a new global Coke campaign called ‘The World Will Wait’ that’s aimed at Gen Z and Millennial audiences.
Morocco’s Tanger Med port reinforces its global logistics significance
The port sits on one of the world’s busiest shipping routes and is showing steady growth as a major logistics hub.
Brand gives grumpy motorists facing a parking fine reason to smile
Your car’s been wheel clamped and you must pay a fine to get it released. Irish brand Paddy Power somehow turned it into a moment of fun.
Publicis Groupe Africa appoints Jarred Trembath to lead Influential
He brings extensive professional experience spanning media strategy, activation and content management to new role.
IAB discusses the problem with AI visibility measurement tools
New standardised set of measurement guidelines released for tracking brand and publisher visibility in AI-powered search platforms.
Ethiopia’s marketers discuss the changing world of digital advertising
Ethiopian Marketing Professionals Association hosts Addis Ababa event discussing artificial intelligence and its impact.
Egyptian confectionary company rolls out its African export strategy
MO Group identifies South Africa, Somalia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Madagascar as target markets under its African expansion plan.
AMC Conference: Exploring the Influence of AI and Afcfta on African Marketing
Discover announced speakers and essential news for the upcoming AMC Conference. Delegate payments are now live – read the latest articles and register.
PRCA Africa NextGen announces Lerato Motloung as its new Chair
Body for emerging public relations and communications professionals across Africa also has a new Vice Chair and committee member.
More improvements for vital Port of Maputo regional trade gateway
Aim is to create a smarter, more connected and efficient port ecosystem that will make Maputo a strategic gateway for trade.
