British American Tobacco to cut 9,000 jobs in major restructuring push

The tobacco giant is slashing roughly a fifth of its global workforce to fund an artificial intelligence pivot, escalating a restructuring cycle that began earlier this year.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-06-29 09:56 UTC · 1 min read

British American Tobacco (BAT) is set to eliminate approximately 9,000 positions globally, representing roughly 20% of its 47,000-strong workforce.

The sweeping reduction is part of a broader strategic overhaul aimed at reducing costs and accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence across the company’s operations.

The announcement marks a significant escalation in BAT’s restructuring efforts.

Earlier this year, the company had already signaled plans to cut 5,500 jobs as part of its initial push toward digital transformation.

The latest round of layoffs more than doubles that initial figure, underscoring the urgency with which management is pursuing operational efficiency.

This aggressive headcount reduction reflects a wider trend among large-cap consumer goods firms leveraging AI to streamline back-office functions and supply chain logistics.