There will be more than 100 redundancies at the headquarters of Clarks in Street, after the company announced a new business strategy.

As previously reported, Clarks had been looking at restructuring but has now announced the changes, which will see 900 roles being made redundant worldwide over the next 18 months.

At the Street headquarters, it was announced today (May 21) that 108 roles would go, and it is not clear at this stage whether any more redundancies of the 900 in total will come from the headquarters.

Clarks CEO Giorgio Presca said: "There are exciting opportunities ahead for our business, and we are having to make some difficult decisions to get there.

"We thank all affected staff for their contribution to our business and they leave their roles with our heartfelt respect and support."

The job losses as part of the 195-year-old company's "made to last" strategy which it hopes means it has a sustainable and successful future, keeping it in step with changes in how consumers around the world choose and buy their shoes.

Mr Presca today announced that this new strategy will deliver:

A new brand strategy focused on exploiting the brand's potential, leveraging its heritage, its iconic timeless shoes and their consumer relevance in today's market. It will focus on sustainability, product innovation, design and quality, and digital enhancement to help customers properly interact with the Clarks brand, and select and buy shoes in the most convenient ways for their lifestyle.

A new organisation with an end to end operating model that will enable Clarks to deliver its strategy in a lean, effective and quick manner. This will require a total reduction in the company's global workforce of approximately 900 corporate roles, partially balanced by the creation of around 200 new roles. It is expected that approximately 700 employees will leave the business over 18 months.

As part of this new strategy, Mr Presca today announced 160 redundancies in Clarks' operations around the world, including the 108 at its headquarters in Street, confirmed that the company is supporting staff to find alternative employment within or outside of Clarks.

Today's announcement follows the announcement at the end of last year when 170 employees left the business globally, and Mr Presca confirmed that the business will continue to review its stores in line with changing consumer needs.

In a separate move in March to respond to the impact of Covid-19 health risks, Clarks announced the temporary closure of many of its stores around the world to protect its staff and customers.

Since then the company has begun to reopen in China and in some markets in Europe and is following guidance from the governments and health authorities in the UK, US and elsewhere, and is taking appropriate measures to reopen when it is right and safe to do so.

To address the short-term liquidity needs caused by the Covid-19 crisis, the Clarks leadership team has also been reviewing funding options with selected advisors to position the business to deliver its strategy and enable future growth.

Mr Presca confirmed that Clarks is now concentrating on expanding the use of digital and social channels to connect with consumers as part of its long-term strategy.

He said: "With two centuries of change and adaptation behind us, Clarks has proved itself to be one of the most resilient brands in the world, with our theme 'Then, Now, Always'."

He pointed to Clarks' Desert Boot, created 70 years ago by Nathan Clark, as an example of the resilience of the Clarks brand.

"The Desert Boot was a radical product that broke all the rules," he said.

"It was launched as a utility shoe in 1950 but has since become a much-copied, globally-adopted icon of casual footwear featuring a design signature that is simple, functional and timelessly stylish.

"To ignite our emotional connection with consumers, we have organised Clarks' brand portfolio across three distinct business units that each represent a unique segment of the shoe market – Clarks Originals, Clarks, Collection and Cloudsteppers by Clarks."

Mr Presca was appointed as Clarks' CEO in February last year following more than 20 years of experience in managing and developing global brands, including Geox, Diesel, Golden Goose, VF corps and Levi Strauss & Co.

He said: "This is helping us move fast to get ahead of the changes in the ways that our consumers live their lives, so that we are there for them every step of the way.

"We are a business that walks its own path, and we are evolving to put our brand and consumers at the heart of everything we do.

"This will ensure that our organisation is made to last, empowering our people to contribute to a great future for the company."