Swedish fashion retailer H&M is undergoing a significant organizational overhaul in Asia, announcing that it will relocate its Southeast Asia (SEA) headquarters from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, while also cutting around 30% of its regional support workforce.
Big regional shake-up for fashion giant H&M
The restructuring is part of a wider global reorganization of H&M’s operating model across Asia-Pacific, shifting its South-east Asia regional headquarters from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur while cutting around 30% of its regional support staff.
According to reports, the changes were formally communicated to staff in early May 2026.
78 jobs in Singapore affected
Out of a regional support headcount of approximately 256 employees, about 78 positions will be eliminated.
For employees whose roles are affected, the company will offer mutual separation agreements if no suitable alternative positions can be found within the new organization. Details of the separation packages will be discussed at a later stage.
Why H&M is moving its hub to Kuala Lumpur
According to Malay Mail, H&M said the shift is part of a broader restructuring of its Asia-Pacific operations, aimed at improving efficiency and streamlining management across regions.
Under the new structure:
- Southeast Asia operations will be based in Kuala Lumpur.
- Northeast Asia operations will move to Tokyo.
- Asia-Pacific leadership will be centralised under a broader regional framework, with Shanghai playing a key coordinating role and overseeing five sales markets.
- The APAC continent portfolio also includes India (hub in Bangalore), Australia & New Zealand (Sydney hub), and Greater China, which will share the Shanghai hub with the continent headquarters.
Internal records indicate that H&M implements similar regionalization or structural changes on approximately an annual basis.
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