Unilever chief executive Hein Schumacher will leave next month after less than two years in the top job, the consumer goods giant has revealed. The Marmite-to-Dove soap group said Mr Schumacher will leave the role “by mutual agreement” on March 1. He will be replaced by recently appointed chief financial officer Fernando Fernandez, who was president of beauty and wellbeing before taking on the top finance role in the firm in January 2024.
Unilever, which makes well-known household brands such as Hellman’s and Magnum, has kicked off a search for a new chief financial officer. Mr Schumacher’s sudden departure comes mid-way through a major turnaround plan, which involves 7,500 previously announced job cuts, as well as moves to trim down the number of brands in its food division and focus more attention on its biggest sellers.
The outgoing boss – who became chief executive officer in July 2023 – has also led efforts to offload its Ben & Jerry’s and Wall’s ice cream division, announcing plans earlier this month to spin it off with a stock market listing in Amsterdam, alongside additional listings in London and New York.
Unilever chairman Ian Meakins said: “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.”.
