CINCINNATI Procter & Gamble is looking to bolster productivity and drive growth by trimming about 15 percent of its staff at the general manager level and above, according to published reports.

The company, whose brands include Crest and Pantene, was reported as saying that many of the job cuts will come through attrition as associates retire or leave the company.

P&G is also working to reduce by half the number of distribution centers it operates globally. According to reports, it has shuttered more than 200 of its 571 distribution centers so far, and expects to close another 70 by the end of 2009.

P&G also is eliminating duplication between organizations.