Unilever appoints Hein Schumacher as new CEO
Unilever, a leading consumer goods company, has appointed Hein Schumacher as the new CEO, set to take on the role on July 1, 2023.
He will take over from current CEO, Alan Jope, who will retire after a 37-year career with the company.
Hein will begin as Unilever CEO on 1 July 2023, after a one-month handover period. This is the first time Unilever has appointed a CEO from outside the company, since they brought in Paul Polman from Nestle in 2008.
Nelson Peltz, a member of Unilever's board since May welcomed Schumacher’s appointment, stating: “I strongly support Hein as our new CEO and look forward to working closely with him to drive significant sustainable stakeholder value.”
Hein brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina, a €11bn global dairy and nutrition business operating in over 40 countries. Under his leadership, the company underwent significant transformation, becoming a more focused, growth-driven, and sustainable operation, according to a company statement.
Prior to joining Royal FrieslandCampina as CFO in 2014, Hein worked for H.J. Heinz for over a decade – during a time of significant change at the company – across the US, Europe and Asia.
In his last four years at Heinz, he was based in China, where he led a turnaround of the Asia Pacific zone.
Hein began his career in finance at Unilever, before joining Royal Ahold NV.
Unilever Chairman Nils Andersen said that the new CEO, Hein, is experienced and driven, with a successful track record in the global consumer goods industry. The board is excited for Hein to lead Unilever to growth and success for all stakeholders.
“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. Alan will continue to lead Unilever until the end of June.”
Hein said: “I am delighted to have been appointed 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.”
Hein Schumacher's remuneration package includes an annual fixed salary of €1.85 million and additional incentives such as annual bonuses and Performance Share Plan awards, all in line with Unilever's existing compensation policy.
Hein holds a Masters degree in Political Science and International Relations from University of Amsterdam.