Meta just told some of its former managers to become managers again
Executive Take
Meta built a flat structure for speed and is now rebuilding management because 50 reports per manager doesn't work. Flattening org charts sounds efficient on a slide but breaks down fast in practice.
Executive Summary
Meta is asking some individual contributors in its Applied AI division to return to management roles, according to Business Insider, which cited four people familiar with the matter. The 7,000-person division was formed in March with a flat structure targeting up to 50 reports per manager. Meta declined to comment.
Why It Matters
HR leaders should watch this because it shows a high-profile flattening experiment hitting real limits inside its first year. It's a live data point for anyone copying the "fewer managers, more reports" playbook.
Bizquad Perspective
The real story isn't that Meta added managers back, it's that Meta announced flattening loudly and is reversing it quietly, which tells you the public narrative was always ahead of the operational reality.