Sanofi may be trimming its headcount in Japan through voluntary retirements, but the drugmaker is adding jobs in Hungary. The company plans to open a shared services center in Budapest and employ 350 people there.
The site will start with 100 workers and provide business support services such as accounting, finance and human resources in seven languages, according to a press release (PDF). Sanofi currently employs more than 2,000 people in Hungary at three manufacturing plants, a logistics site and a global strategic unit. The company plans to grow employment to 350 by 2022.
RELATED: Still seeking cost cuts, Sanofi plans to slim down in Japan through voluntary retirements
The news comes right on the heels of Sanofi’s confirmation that it’s trimming jobs in Japan through voluntary early retirements, although the drugmaker didn’t confirm a target number of job cuts. Citing a source, Reuters reported the company wants to reduce its headcount by 200 employees in the country.
It also comes amid CEO Paul Hudson's "listening tour," during which he's working to learn as much as he can about the company by visiting numerous sites and countries. Hudson joined from Novartis last month and hasn’t yet talked about future strategies, but he plans to have a presentation ready for an investor event in December.
Before the Japan retirement confirmation, Sanofi in June said it would cut 466 jobs in its R&D group in France and Germany. In April, the company said it would lay off an undisclosed number of U.S. sales staffers.
RELATED: CEO Paul Hudson's turning 'clear eyes' on Sanofi—and hinting at changes ahead
Meanwhile, the company is weighing strategic options in Bangladesh, a spokesman confirmed. Local reports have said the company intends to sell its share and exit the country, creating uncertainty for 1,000 workers.
Sanofi operates in more than 100 countries and employed 104,266 workers at the end of the year, down slightly from 106,566 at the end of 2017 and 106,859 at the end of 2016.