QVC Group’s consolidation plans have resulted in a reduction in the organization’s headcount.
The recently renamed parent company of QVC and HSN eliminated roughly 900 U.S. roles Thursday. “For many of these individuals, today will be their last day with QVC Group,” read a statement from the group. “Some will continue working with us for several months, mainly to support the transition of the HSN broadcast and the St. Petersburg campus.”
As previously reported, the company started the year by consolidating U.S. operations of QVC and HSN, moving HSN’s St. Petersburg, Fla.-based operations to QVC’s Studio Park in West Chester, Pa.
At that time, a company spokesperson said QVC Group “anticipates role eliminations, as well as relocations and shifts to virtual working in certain circumstances,” though the number of roles affected had yet to be determined.
In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the company said it had around 17,000 employees globally, meaning around 5 percent of its workforce had been impacted by the cuts. Organizational changes are being floated for the company’s international markets as well, though details have not been solidified.
“We will be sharing the detail with potentially affected individuals and, where applicable, engaging in negotiations with relevant employee representation bodies, in accordance with local laws,” the company said.
More recently, QVC Group named veteran media executive Alex Wellen president and chief growth officer. “Wellen will define and lead QVC Group’s growth strategy across U.S. social selling, streaming, digital (qvc.com and hsn.com), new business development and platform distribution,” the company told WWD at the time.
Wellen is among the executive changes at the company, which saw Mike Fitzharris’ appointment to president of QVC U.S. brand and chief operating officer of QVC Group. Stacy Bowe is now also the president of HSN brand and U.S. merchandising.
It’s a marked shift for the company, which is focusing on social selling in addition to broadcast. “Alex is a pivotal hire in our strategy to return to top-line growth by becoming a live social shopping company,” chief executive officer David Rawlinson 2nd said in a statement at the time of Wellen’s hire.
For 2024, the company’s consolidated net revenue fell 4.8 percent to $452 million, per the SEC filing.
