UK-headquartered consumer goods giant Unilever on Tuesday announced a major organisational shakeup, which involves some of its Indian-origin executives. The company said it also plans to lay off 1,500 staff , globally.

Sanjiv Mehta retains the executive leadership of Mumbai-based subsidiary Hindustan Unilever.

Unilever chief operating officer (COO) Nitin Paranjpe will take on a new role as chief transformation officer and chief people officer, leading the business transformation and heading the HR function.

The company said Sunny Jain, president of beauty and personal care, has decided to leave Unilever to set up an “investment fund in technology megatrends”.

The company will move away from its current “matrix structure” to be organised around five distinct business groups: beauty & wellbeing, personal care, home care, nutrition, and ice-cream.

“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,” said Unilever CEO Alan Jope.

The maker of Dove soap and Pond's in India has also confirmed plans to cut 1,500 jobs under the wider shakeup of its global operations.

“The proposed new organisation model will result in a reduction in senior management roles of around 15 per cent and more junior management roles by 5 per cent, equivalent to around 1,500 roles globally. Changes will be subject to consultation. We do not expect factory teams to be impacted by these changes,” the company said.

The company has not revealed exactly where the job cuts would be made.

When reached out for comments on whether Unilever’s proposed new organisational model will lead to job cuts in India, a spokesperson for Hindustan Unilever said “Changes, if any, will be announced in due course.”