Canva will reorganize three product groups and make Sydney the primary base for more teams in a workforce overhaul affecting 1,271 people, as the company reports its first growth slowdown in a decade.
The affected group represents 22% of Canva’s workforce, but includes people facing departures, role changes and relocation requests. Canva did not give a separate count of employees who will leave.
Under the plan, Product, Growth and Platform will come together in one Product Org. Canva also plans to broaden some specialist roles and simplify its management structure. The company said handovers and coordination had made it harder for teams to take on larger problems and build a unified product. It said the new setup is intended to give teams clearer responsibility and more autonomy.
Canva’s teams operate across 37 countries. The company named Sydney as the primary base for more product teams and some other roles, but did not say how many employees could receive relocation requests. From January, most hybrid employees are expected to work in an office around two to three days a week.
Canva co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins said the company’s growth had slowed for the first time in 10 years. She said, “This is without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history.”
Canva said employees who leave would receive at least six months of salary, including statutory entitlements, as well as career and wellbeing support. In countries where Canva currently provides health coverage, departing employees would receive 12 months of continued coverage.
Departing staff can register their interest by Dec. 14 in a US$10,000 Canva Collective Fund grant to start a business or pursue a community project. Canva set Tuesday, Nov. 10, for a company-wide meeting on the changes and staff questions.
