Unilever announces management changes

Unilever today announced that Doug Baillie has been appointed Chief HR Officer, following the recent departure of Sandy Ogg, and that Jan Zijderveld is to join the Unilever Executive as Doug’s replacement as President Western Europe.

Paul Polman, chief executive of Unilever, said: “I am extremely pleased to be able to make these changes that strengthen what is already a formidable top team.

“Doug will bring the customer and consumer focus he has employed to such good effect in transforming the Western Europe business and bringing it back to growth to bear on a critical global role, while his experience in both developed and emerging markets will help us win the war for talent.

“Jan, currently Executive Vice President for South East Asia and Australasia (SEAA) will bring considerable experience of both Asian and European markets to his new role, building on the competitive position already established, ensuring fast, pan-European delivery of innovation into the marketplace and integrating the Sara Lee and Alberto Culver acquisitions when the latter has received regulatory clearance.

Both these appointments underline our determination to have the most talented people in the most important roles to enable us to win in all the markets and categories in which we operate.”

Both appointments are effective from February 1st, 2011.