Sonos layoffs: CEO trims management layers as design and research teams take a major hit

Sonos has trimmed its leadership ranks across design, product and user experience as the audio company pushes ahead with a wider restructuring intended to simplify its organisation. The latest round of job cuts has affected several long-serving executives and employees, prompting questions over how the changes could influence the company's ability to develop future products.

According to a Bloomberg report, those leaving Sonos include Dana Krieger, the company's vice president of design, who spent 12 years at the firm. Also departing are Kate Wojogbe, a senior user experience executive with nearly a decade at Sonos, and Scott Fink, a 15-year company veteran who played a key role in the development of its home theatre business.

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The restructuring has extended beyond senior management. Several employees confirmed their departures on LinkedIn, offering a glimpse into the scale of the cuts. Edward Mitchell, who worked as a designer for around 12 years, wrote that "The design team is a little smaller now." Rebecca Phillips, a user experience researcher, said that "Nearly the entire UX Research team was let go." Kristen Leclerc, who led the user research function, was also among those affected.

Other experienced employees have also exited the company. Michelle Enright, who led packaging and product sustainability initiatives for 14 years, and hardware product manager Sara Lincoln, who had been with Sonos for 11 years, were both laid off as part of the restructuring.

Sonos confirmed the workforce reductions last month. A company spokesperson told Bloomberg that experienced leadership remains across the affected teams and said user research efforts would continue despite the changes.

Chief Executive Tom Conrad has positioned the restructuring as an effort to create a leaner and faster-moving organisation. In an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg, Conrad wrote: "I want a Sonos that moves with more conviction and more velocity." He added, "Fewer months in conference rooms. More prototypes in our labs. More decisions made and executed. More exceptional products in the world for our customers."

The company has maintained that the layoffs are unrelated to artificial intelligence. However, Conrad has previously acknowledged that AI is playing an increasingly important role inside Sonos. During the company's May earnings call, he said the technology is already influencing software development, marketing and his own day-to-day management.

The combination of those comments and the recent workforce reductions has fuelled speculation among some current and former employees, who reportedly believe the changes are primarily aimed at reducing costs. Some have also expressed concern that the loss of experienced designers and researchers could weaken Sonos' product development capabilities and alter the company's culture.

Despite the restructuring, Sonos continues to invest in its product roadmap. The company is reportedly developing a second-generation version of its Ace headphones, alongside updated home theatre products, signalling that new hardware remains central to its long-term strategy.