Burberry has made its global vice president of colleague attraction and inclusion, Geoffrey Williams, redundant and scrapped the role as part of a broader overhaul, according to reports in The Telegraph.

Williams said he was “phased out” during the summer as the luxury group pursues cost reductions across the business.

The company is working through a turnaround plan targeting at least £60 million of savings. In May, executives suggested the programme could lead to as many as 1,700 roles being cut by 2027, equal to around a fifth of the workforce, as reported by The Telegraph. Burberry has also closed several stores and ended the night shift at its Castleford factory to address overcapacity.

Williams, who describes himself as a “key thought leader,” told The Telegraph he had been let go over the summer as part of a company‑wide cull, saying he was “phased out”.

The move has raised questions about the brand’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. Burberry’s website states it maintains a DEI programme focused on “fostering an open and inclusive culture,” while noting that efforts are being consolidated this year. The company first formalised a set of initiatives in 2019 after criticism of a hoodie featuring a noose‑like drawstring shown during London Fashion Week, including unconscious bias training for staff and the creation of an external cultural advisory board, The Telegraph reported.

The broader context includes shifting corporate approaches to DEI initiatives. The Telegraph piece cited recent developments in the United States, including warnings from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that certain corporate DEI policies could be unlawful, and reductions in programmes by large companies. However, it is not clear whether Burberry is retreating from its own DEI efforts or reconfiguring them as part of the company’s cost‑saving plan.

Burberry reported a £66 million loss in the year to April, compared with profits of £383 million a year earlier, with revenues down 17 per cent to £2.4 billion and like‑for‑like sales falling 12 per cent, The Telegraph said. Chief executive Joshua Schulman described recent trading as “challenging” and framed the changes as necessary to safeguard long‑term manufacturing viability in the UK.

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