E-Malt.com News article: The Netherlands: Heineken to relocate Central and Eastern European (CEE) senior management team to Amsterdam HQ

Heineken's Central and Eastern European (CEE) senior management team is being relocated from Austria to the group's HQ in Amsterdam, the company announced last week.

In a statement on January, 17, the brewer said that its CEE “leadership team” and a “limited number” of regional employees will move from its Lassallestrasse office, in Vienna, Austria to the group's head office this summer. A company spokesperson declined to comment on the possibility of redundancies, but the statement said that some employees will be “affected by the move”.

Asked whether the shake-up was related to financial savings for the group, the spokesperson said: “This is not about cost-cutting, but about improving the decision-making process and facilitating knowledge sharing across the various regions by being at the corporate centre in Amsterdam.”

Heineken said it intends to keep a "regional hub" in its Schwechat office in Vienna. However the spokesperson declined to confirm that the Lassallestrasse office is closing.

The statement added: “The move will not impact the way we manage the markets in the CEE region.”

Also last week, Heineken-owned brewer and soft drinks maker Hartwall said it plans to cut up to 8% of its staff and outsource part of its sales work in Finland.

21 January, 2013