Unilever makes management changes, launches new action plan
Global consumer products giant Unilever
Following a “thorough internal and external search process”, Fernandez moves up from President of Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing Business Group. He replaces Graeme Pitkethly, who announced his decision to retire from the company earlier this year.
Fernando’s appointment is effective 1 January when he also joins the board.
Prior to his current role running one of Unilever’s fastest growing Business Groups, Fernandez was responsible for Unilever’s business in Latin America.
This followed a period leading Unilever Brazil between 2011 and 2019. Earlier in his career, he led Unilever Philippines and, before that, Unilever’s Global Hair Care category.
CEO Hein Schumacher
At the same time, Unilever also announced other leadership changes across the group. Heading that list is Priya Nair, who has been appointed President Beauty & Wellbeing, replacing Fernandez. She moves up from her current position as Chief Marketing Officer Beauty & Wellbeing.
Meanwhile, Esi Eggleston Bracey, General Manager Personal Care North America and Head of Country US, has been appointed to the new role of Chief Growth and Marketing Officer.
As mentioned, the company also unveiled an action plan, and it said it’s targeting faster growth with a focus first on its 30 ‘Power Brands’ that represent 70% of its turnover.
This focus will include innovation and investment with it “selectively optimising its portfolio, but with no major or transformational acquisitions being planned”.
It’s also targeting “productivity and simplicity”, with a focus on building back its gross margin, and emphasising its sustainability commitments. And it wants to build a performance culture, the management changes being part of this.
It expects the changes to lead to underlying sales growth of 3-5% with modest margin expansion.
