Imperial Brands to Cut Thousands of U.S. Jobs in Restructuring

Imperial Brands, the British multinational tobacco company, is preparing to eliminate thousands of jobs across its major markets, including a significant number in the United States, according to a Bloomberg News report published on Monday. The company's shares fell more than 5 percent following the announcement . The first phase of the job cuts will specifically target the company's ITG Brands unit, which operates in the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The layoffs are expected to begin with departments including human resources, finance, and the procurement and supply chain . A second phase of reductions is planned for later in the year, which will affect the legal, marketing, and insights teams. Affected employees are scheduled to be notified in April, with the cuts beginning in mid-year . The company is also planning to outsource some ITG Brand roles to its strategic partner, Capgemini SE, before the end of the year. Furthermore, Imperial Brands has been in contact with relevant bodies in the European Union regarding planned redundancies, which are subject to consultation . As of the end of 2025, Imperial Brands employed approximately 25,800 staff globally . While a company spokesperson confirmed the impact of the changes on the company's global footprint, they did not provide specific details on the number of jobs affected. The company warned in May that it was facing higher costs stemming from the Iran war, which added pressure to an industry already suffering from a terminal decline in traditional cigarettes and increasing regulatory challenges .