Singapore – Global home appliance manufacturer Electrolux has announced that it is shutting down its regional office in Singapore and is aiming to relocate its APAC and MEA commercial leadership to Thailand, MARKETECH APAC has learned recently.
In an exclusive statement sent by Samar Refai, communications director, APAC & MEA transformation at Electrolux, she stated that with this office closure, there will be several regional employees who will be laid off. However, they did not specify the number of employees who will be affected. The company has promised that the affected employees will be offered the maximum level of support during the upcoming transition period.
“With a newly established commercial set-up for APAC & MEA, Australia and Thailand are becoming key hubs for Electrolux Group in the region. Having the regional capabilities & competencies within these hubs ensures proximity to our customers, consumers, manufacturing sites, R&D and Innovation centers,” Refai told MARKETECH APAC.
Refai also assured that despite the imminent fate of its Singapore office, Electrolux will continue to drive its important business in the APAC&MEA region focusing on growth.
“This decision has no impact, whatsoever, on the operational business & trade relations, in any of Electrolux Group’s markets in APAC & MEA, including Singapore Sales office in Braddell,” she also added.
Electrolux has recently recorded a dip in its global sales, according to its recent year-end report for the fourth quarter of 2023. In it, the company noted that organic sales decreased by 0.8% mainly driven by negative prices but also lower volumes.
“In three out of four business areas we managed to navigate this challenging market environment in a fairly good way, even if the weak market demand resulted in an earnings decline for 2023 in our European and Asia-Pacific operations,” Jonas Samuelson, president and CEO of Electrolux stated.
Electrolux’s layoffs also join other major companies who have made significant cut-offs to its Singapore offices, including Unilever and Lazada.
