THE WHAT? Unilever has named its next CEO. The UK-based FMCG giant will be headed up by Hein Schumacher, effective July 1, 2023 after a month-long handover period with outgoing CEO Alan Jope who announced his intention to retire in September, 2022.

THE DETAILS Hein is currently CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina and has served as a Non-Executive Director on Unilever’s board since October.

“I am delighted to have been appointed to lead Unilever,” commented Hein. “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.”

THE WHY? Unilever Chairman Nils Andersen said: “We are delighted to welcome Hein as our new Chief Executive, after an extensive, global search process. Hein 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.