# Unilever Plc CEO Paul Polman to retire

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/unilever-plc-ceo-paul-polman-to-retire/412762212
- Published: 2018-11-29T07:28:39+00:00
- Author: Charlotte Edwards

**[Unilever Plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/unilever-plc/ulvr.l)**(
[LON:ULVR](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/unilever-plc/ulvr.l))
announced today that CEO Paul Polman has decided to retire from the company. Alan
Jope, currently President, Beauty & Personal Care, has been appointed to the position,
effective 1 January 2019, with Polman supporting the transition process during the
first half of the year.

Paul Polman has been Unilever CEO for over 10 years and has worked in the consumer
goods industry for almost four decades. During his tenure, the company has delivered
consistent top and bottom line growth ahead of its markets. Its focus on successfully
pioneering a new model of sustainable growth has served the needs of its many stakeholders
and created excellent returns for its shareholders, delivering a Total Shareholder
Return of 290% over that period.

Alan Jope, 54, has led Beauty & Personal Care, Unilever’s largest Division, since
2014 and has been on the company’s Leadership Executive since 2011. He has an excellent
track record of leading Unilever’s business in both developed and emerging markets,
having run the company’s North Asia business for four years, served as President,
Russia, Africa & Middle East, and spent over a decade in senior Foods, Home Care
and Personal Care roles for Unilever US. Alan joined the company as a graduate marketing
trainee in 1985.

> **Unilever Chairman Marijn Dekkers said**: “Paul is an exceptional business leader
> who has transformed Unilever, making it one of the best-performing companies in
> its sector, and one of the most admired businesses in the world. His role in helping
> to define a new era of responsible capitalism, embodied in the Unilever Sustainable
> Living Plan, marks him out as one of the most far-sighted business leaders of 
> his generation.
> “Paul’s vision, drive and performance focus, combined with his commitment to serving
> the best long-term interests of the company, have materially strengthened Unilever.
> He leaves a more agile and resilient company, well placed to win in this fast-
> changing, dynamic industry. I’d like to thank him personally, and on behalf of
> the Board, for his contribution to Unilever.
> “After a rigorous and wide-ranging selection process, the Board is delighted to
> appoint Alan to the role. Having worked for Unilever in a variety of senior management
> roles, Alan has a deep understanding and experience of our business, the industry,
> and the markets in which we operate. He is a strong, dynamic and values-driven
> leader with an impressive track record of delivering consistent high-quality performance.
> The Board warmly welcomes Alan to the role and wishes him every success.”
> **Paul Polman said**: “I congratulate Alan on his appointment and look forward
> to working with him on the transition. Having worked closely with Alan for many
> years, I am highly confident that under his leadership, Unilever will prosper 
> long into the future. His appointment demonstrates the strength of Unilever’s 
> succession planning and talent pipeline.
> “It has been an honour to lead Unilever over the last 10 years. Throughout this
> time, I have been humbled by the commitment and hard work of our people, and their
> passion for creating a truly purpose-driven company. I am very grateful to them,
> as I am to Unilever’s many other stakeholders, with whom we have worked to build
> our long-term, sustainable business. I look forward to engaging with many of these
> partners – in a different capacity – to help address the many environmental and
> social challenges facing the world.”
> **Alan Jope said:** “It will be a huge privilege to lead Unilever – a truly global
> company full of talented people, and brilliant brands. Over the 30 years I have
> worked at Unilever, I have seen the many ways in which our brands improve people’s
> lives, positively impacting more than 2 billion citizens every day.
> “Our global footprint includes strong positions in many important markets for 
> the future and our focus will remain on serving our consumers, and our other multiple
> stakeholders, to deliver long-term growth and value creation.
> “I’d also like to extend my gratitude to Paul for his remarkable leadership of
> Unilever and look forward to working closely with him during the transition.”

Polman will retire as CEO and as a Board member on 31 December 2018. He will support
the transition process in the first half of 2019 and will leave the company in early
July.

A successor to the role of President, Beauty & Personal Care will be announced shortly.

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