SSL marketing staff fear axe after Reckitt takeover

Up to 300 SSL marketing staff fear redundancy following the £2.5bn takeover of the group by Reckitt Benckiser on Monday.

Scholl: SSL brand acquired by RB
Scholl: SSL brand acquired by RB

SSL marketing staff are distributed between national, regional, country specific and global teams, and add up to between 250 and 300 staff in total.

A Reckitt spokesperson confirmed that cuts would occur, but could not shed any more light on job security.

Speaking to Marketing, SSL staff said they were fearful for their jobs because of Reckitt’s 'cutthroat' reputation.

One marketing staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "SSL has a very family feel to it, even though we are not family owned – we only really have two major brands [Scholl and Durex]. We are all worried about our positions now we are owned by Reckitt.

"On a personal level, all the people at Reckitt we have come into contact with could not be nicer, but everyone is nervous about what will happen now."

Another said: "We are particularly worried because of the way the Boots Healthcare takeover was handled in 2006.

"All the staff are nervous because of Reckitt’s cutthroat reputation."

Reckitt bought Boots Healthcare in 2006 for £1.9bn, and made deep staff cuts. Reckitt’s accounts for 2006 list redundancy costs of £80m relating to the Boots takeover.

A Reckitt spokesperson confirmed that the only person to have their job secure was SSL’s group marketing director Volker Sydow, who was given the new role of global category director for sexual wellbeing and footcare at RB yesterday.

"We don't know any more detail or what sorts of things might happen but we know there will be cuts because of overlaps [between the two companies]," said a Reckitt spokesperson.

"Everyone but Volker is part of a 90-day consultation process, so we are unable to say anything else until that 90-day process completes.

"We understand the nervousness because we don't have clarity yet, especially on role and location."

SSL is headquartered in Blackfriars in London while Reckitt is headquartered in Slough.

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