Nike layoffs hit Netherlands-based European headquarters

Nike has laid off staff at its European headquarters based in Hilversum, sources told Bloomberg. The exact number of people affected is unclear. Around 2,000 people work at the sportswear company’s European headquarters.

The layoffs in the Netherlands are part of a reorganization in which Nike wants to cut about 2 percent of its global workforce and slash costs by around 2 billion dollars. Job cuts in North America and elsewhere in the world already happened earlier this year. Dismissals in Europe took longer due to local labor laws, according to Bloomberg.

A Nike spokesperson referred Bloomberg to a company statement released in February. “The actions that we’re taking put us in the position to right-size our organization to get our biggest growth opportunities.” According to the company, “interest in sport, health, and wellness has never been stronger.”

Nike doesn’t release separate figures for its European results. Last year, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa accounted for about 26 percent of Nike's global sales, amounting to about 13.5 billion dollars in revenue in these territories.