19th Dec 2006 09:05
Unilever PLC19 December 2006 CHANGES TO EXECUTIVE TEAM Unilever today announced that John Rice, President Americas, has decided toretire from Unilever after 25 years of service. John, who will step down inMarch 2007, will be replaced on the Unilever Executive Team as PresidentAmericas by Michael Polk. Michael is currently Group Vice President andPresident Unilever United States. Michael joined Unilever in 2003 after 16years at Kraft. Patrick Cescau, Group Chief Executive, said: "I want to thank John for his manycontributions to Unilever over the course of his career with the company. Mostrecently this included his commitment to help build the new One Unileverorganization as well as the successful leadership of the Americas region for thepast two years. We will all miss his leadership and experience." "Mike has played a key role in successfully integrating the US business andsustaining our growth momentum in this important country. I am really pleasedthat he is taking on the leadership of the Americas region." -ends- 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: Knorr,Hellmann's, Lipton, Country Crock, Slim.Fast, Bertolli, Dove, Pond's, Axe, All. Unilever has around 206,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generatedannual sales of €40 billion in 2005. For more information about Unilever andits brands, please visit www.unilever.com. SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT: This announcement may contain forward-lookingstatements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of theUnited States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and othersimilar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives areintended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-lookingstatements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regardinganticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are nothistorical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because theseforward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are importantfactors that could cause actual results to differ materially from thoseexpressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, amongothers, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels, costs, theability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chainsources, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitionsand complete planned divestitures, physical risks, environmental risks, theability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matterswithin current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments,political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where theGroup operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details ofpotential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in theGroup's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the USSecurities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report & Accounts onForm 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of thisannouncement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Groupexpressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly anyupdates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein toreflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any changein events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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