Unilever begins hunt for new chief
Headhunters have started the search for a new chief executive to run one of the world’s biggest consumer products firms, it was reported today.
The top job at Anglo-Dutch firm Unilever carries responsibility for a wide range of famous brands, including Flora, Persil and Dove soap.
The successful candidate will take over from Patrick Cescau, who turns 60 next year and is expected to step down at the company’s annual meeting in May.
Newspaper reports said headhunters at Egon Zehnder had been appointed to find his replacement. They will look at external candidates, but it is thought the eventual successor will come from one of four existing directors.
The company is due to announce half-year results on Thursday, with analysts expecting the figures to show further progress, including the sixth quarter in a row of sales growth in excess of 5%.
Unilever recorded pre-tax profits of €5.18bn last year, up 11% at constant exchange rates. As well as price increases, Unilever has benefited from cost saving programmes and innovation-led growth.
Mr Cescau joined Unilever in 1973 and was appointed chairman of Unilever plc and deputy chairman of Unilever’s Dutch entity in October 2004. Unilever changed its management structure in April 2005 to one with a single non-executive chairman and a single chief executive.
He has been credited with changing the company’s fortunes through a significant restructuring under the title “One Unilever”. The company employs around 8,000 people in the UK.
