Struggling Nike will cut around 1,400 jobs in efficiency push

Nike said on Thursday (April 23) it is laying off about 1,400 people to streamline workflows, as the struggling sportswear company fights through a years-long sales slump.

In a memo to employees on Thursday, Chief Operating Officer Venkatesh Alagirisamy said Nike would cut jobs in global operations - mainly technology - in North America, Asia and Europe, accounting for a little less than 2% of the global workforce.

It is the latest in a string of job cuts at Nike, most recently the axing in January of 775 roles in a bid to speed up automation. A spokeswoman for the sportswear company declined to provide a cost-savings figure for the layoffs.

The cuts will allow Nike to better integrate its supply chains for materials, footwear and apparel, and to focus its technology operations in two main hubs - its Beaverton, Oregon, headquarters, and the Nike India Technology Center - according to Alagirisamy's memo.

-Kokkai Ng/Reuters