28th Feb 2008 07:01
Unilever PLC28 February 2008 BOARD CHANGES AT UNILEVER Unilever today announced a number of changes to simplify further its structureand better align its organisation in support of the company's growth agenda. Building on the success of its One Unilever programme the company now intends togo further by combining Home & Personal Care and Foods into a single categorystructure. To reflect the company's strategic focus on growth in developing markets,Central & Eastern Europe will in future be managed within an enlarged regioncomprising Asia, Africa and Central & Eastern Europe. Western Europe will become a standalone region. Simultaneously, a number of Unilever Board and senior executive changes are alsobeing announced. Kees van der Graaf will retire from the Boards of Unilever and from his role asPresident Europe at the Annual General Meetings on 14th and 15th May 2008 aftera Unilever career spanning 32 years. Ralph Kugler, President Home & PersonalCare, will similarly step down at the Annual General Meetings after 29 yearsservice. Harish Manwani, currently President Asia Africa, will lead the new expandedregion. Doug Baillie will join the Unilever Executive as President of WesternEurope, having previously been Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Unilever. The roles of President Home & Personal Care and President Foods will be mergedunder the leadership of Vindi Banga, currently President Foods. Patrick Cescau, Group Chief Executive said: "These measures build naturally onthe changes of recent years and give us an organisational structure even betterplaced to advance our growth agenda. At the same time, I want to express mydeep appreciation to Kees and Ralph for the significant contribution they havemade over long and distinguished careers. They have been fine colleagues andcan be proud of their achievements. We welcome Doug Baillie onto the UnileverExecutive following the outstanding contribution he has made to the business,most recently at Hindustan Unilever". Michael Treschow, Chairman of Unilever, said: "We thank Kees and Ralph for allthey have done for us both as executives and as members of the Unilever Boardand we wish them well." Also at the AGMs in May, James A Lawrence, currently Chief Financial Officer,will be proposed for election as an executive director of Unilever. This changewill mean that the Unilever Board will be composed of two executive directorsand 11 non executives. Jim joined Unilever as CFO in September 2007. He iscurrently a non-executive director of British Airways PLC and Avnet, Inc. Unilever requires all Directors to offer themselves for re-election at the AGMseach year. Accordingly, in addition to James Lawrence, the following directors will beoffering themselves for re-election: Patrick Cescau, Genevieve Berger, Leon Brittan, Wim Dik, Charles Golden, ByronGrote, Narayana Murthy, Hixonia Nyasulu, David Simon, Kees Storm, MichaelTreschow, Jeroen van der Veer. -ends- 28th February, 2008 About Unilever Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs fornutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good,look good and get more out of life. Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goodswith strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Itsportfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brandsincluding twelve €1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories inwhich the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as Flora,Bertolli, Dove, Lux, Pond's, Lynx, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and Domestos. Unilever has around 179,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generatedannual sales of €40 billion in 2006. For more information about Unilever andits brands, visit www.unilever.com. SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT: This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 'expects','anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other similarexpressions of future performance or results, including financial objectives to2010, and their negatives are intended to identify such forward-lookingstatements. These forward-looking statements are based upon currentexpectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and otherfactors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are theyguarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking statementsinvolve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could causeactual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by theseforward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing andactivities, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage keycustomer relationships and supply chain sources, currency values, interestrates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures,physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax andlegal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative,fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions inthe geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities ofthe Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting theGroup are described in the Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange,Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including theAnnual Report & Accounts on Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speakonly as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicablelaw or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertakingto release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statementscontained herein to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regardthereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any suchstatement is based. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Unilever