A major restructuring plan, including potential sales of business units and workforce reductions, has sparked significant anxiety among the 2,500 employees at CAE’s Montreal headquarters, according to reports surfacing on Thursday.
The concerns stem from a new strategic direction implemented by Matthew Bromberg, who recently took the helm as CAE’s chief executive. Details of the plan began circulating approximately a month ago, prompting unease throughout the company, sources say.
The restructuring is expected to involve the divestiture of several CAE business lines, alongside a reduction in staffing levels. The scale of the potential job losses remains unclear, but the prospect has created a “very morose” atmosphere within the organization, according to reporting in Le Journal de Montréal.
CAE employees have consistently demonstrated philanthropic engagement, with employees, unions, and partners raising over $1 million for Centraide Canada in 2024, according to a press release issued in December. This charitable activity occurs against the backdrop of the current uncertainty.
Online reviews of CAE as an employer reveal a mixed picture, with 99 current and former employees sharing their experiences on Indeed.com and 112 on Glassdoor. These reviews cover aspects of company culture, compensation, work-life balance, and job security, but do not directly address the current restructuring.
As of Thursday afternoon, CAE had not issued a public statement addressing the specific concerns raised by employees. The company has not announced a timeline for the implementation of the restructuring plan or the extent of the anticipated workforce reductions.
