Unilever has announced esteemed business leader Hein Schumacher as its new CEO, replacing Alan Jope who announced his retirement last year.
Schumacher presently serves as CEO of the international dairy and nutrition company Royal FrieslandCampina and joined Unilever’s board of directors as a non-executive director in October of last year. Following a one-month transition period, he will start as CEO of Unilever on 1 July 2023.
On his appointment, Schumacher said he was delighted to be able to lead Unilever.
“It is a business with an impressive global footprint, a strong brand portfolio, a talented team and an enviable reputation as a leader in sustainability. In my time serving on the Board, I have only become more convinced by the strength of Unilever’s fundamentals and its clear growth potential.”
“I will be very focused on working with the Unilever team to deliver a step-up in business performance, as we serve the billions of people around the world who use its products every day.”
Joining Royal FrieslandCampina in 2014 as CFO, Schumacher worked for H.J. Heinz for over a decade, during a period of significant change at the company. During his final four years at Heinz, Schumacher was based in China where he oversaw a turnaround of the Asia Pacific zone.
Nils Anderson, Chairman of Unilever, said Schumacher is a dynamic, values-driven business leader who has a diverse background of experiences and an excellent track record of delivery in the global consumer goods industry.
“He has exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and strong experience in both developed and developing markets. The Board looks forward to Hein realising the full potential of Unilever as a winning business which delivers long-term growth and value for all its stakeholders.”
Anderson also thanked Jope for his service and leadership during his long career with the company.
“The changes he has made to the company’s strategy, structure, and organisation leave Unilever far better positioned for success. Alan will continue to lead Unilever until the end of June. He will be retiring after a tremendous 37-year career with our business.”
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