Unilever names Hein Schumacher as CEO
Unilever has appointed Hein Schumacher as its new CEO, succeeding outgoing chief executive Alan Jope.
Schumacher is currently CEO of the global dairy and nutrition business Royal FrieslandCampina, and has been a non-executive director of Unilever since October 2022.
He will take up the role on July 1 after a one month handover period, at which point Jope will step down from the Unilever board.
Prior to joining Royal FrieslandCampina as chief financial officer in 2014, Schumacher worked for H.J. Heinz for over a decade across the U.S., Europe and Asia. He began his career in finance at Unilever, before joining Royal Ahold NV.
“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,” Unilever chairman Nils Andersen said in a statement. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Alan for his leadership of Unilever. The changes he has made to the company’s strategy, structure and organisation leave Unilever far better positioned for success.”
In September, Jope announced he would be retiring at the end of 2023 after five years in the role and more than 35 years with the London-headquartered company.
