Juul Labs has undergone a major management shake-up and plans to cut 10 to 15 per cent of its workforce, according to a report by CNBC.
The company, that has recently come under fire for targeting teens with its flavoured e-cigarette pods, currently employs about 4,100 people. According to the CNBC report, 500 jobs will be cut by the end of the year, with a spokesperson for Juul Labs saying the cuts will affect various departments.
Juul’s new CEO K.C. Crosthwaite has also had to face several top executives leaving the company and has appointed a new chief financial officer amid the shake-up, CNBC reports.
“As the vapour category undergoes a necessary reset, this reorganization will help Juul Labs focus on reducing underage use, investing in scientific research, and creating new technologies while earning a license to operate in the US and around the world”, Crosthwaite said in a statement.
Juul Labs received a USD 12.8 billion (EUR 11.5 billion) investment from tobacco giant Altria in December 2018 which saw their valuation rocket to USD 38 billion (EUR 34.2 billion).