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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.

Business Strategy

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.”

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Dr Kin Kariisa

Group CEO - Next Media

Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.