Unilever on Tuesday announced that Hein Schumacher is stepping down as the Chief Executive Officer and as a Board Director on 1 March 2025. The company further added that he is leaving by mutual agreement, and will leave the company on 31 May 2025.
Hein Schumacher said, “It has been a privilege to lead Unilever. We have made real progress and I am proud of what we have achieved in a short period of time. With a clear strategy, a portfolio reset in motion and a strong leadership team in place, I look forward to seeing Unilever move from strength to strength in the future.”
He will be replaced by Fernando Fernandez who is currently Unilever’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, effective from 1 March 2025. Before becoming the company CFO in January 2024, Fernando served as President of Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing business. In previous roles as President Latin America, CEO Brazil and CEO Philippines, he led some of the company’s best performing markets, delivering strong financial results while developing exceptional talent, the company said in a statement.
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Ian Meakins, Chairman, Unilever, said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Hein for resetting Unilever’s strategy, for the focus and discipline he has brought to the company and for the solid financial progress delivered during 2024. Hein introduced and led a significant productivity programme and the commencement of the Ice Cream separation, both of which are fully on track. The Growth Action Plan (GAP) has put Unilever on a path to higher performance and the Board is committed to accelerating its execution. We are grateful for Hein’s leadership, and we wish him the very best for the future.”
On Fernando’s appointment as CEO, Ian Meakins said, “The Board has been impressed with Fernando’s decisive and results-oriented approach and his ability to drive change at speed. He partnered in the development of the GAP and in driving the productivity programme. He has a strong track record of performance and portfolio management, a love of brands and a profound knowledge of Unilever’s operations.”
“Having worked with Fernando closely over the last 14 months, the Board is very confident in his ability to lead a high performing management team, realise the benefits of the GAP with urgency,
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