FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Dated February
25, 2025
Commission
File Number: 001-04546
UNILEVER PLC
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
UNILEVER HOUSE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON, ENGLAND
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports
under
cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F..X.. Form 40-F
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by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper
as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____
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by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
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as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
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Commission
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes
No .X..
If
"Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
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in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _______
Exhibit
99 attached hereto is incorporated herein by
reference.
Signatures
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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UNILEVER
PLC
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/S/ M VARSELLONA
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BY M VARSELLONA
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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER AND GROUP SECRETARY
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Date:
25 February, 2025
EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT
NUMBER
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EXHIBIT
DESCRIPTION
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99
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Notice
to London Stock Exchange dated 25 February 2025
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Directorate
Change
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Exhibit
99
Unilever PLC Board Update
Fernando Fernandez to succeed Hein Schumacher as Chief Executive
Officer
Board is committed to further accelerating Growth Action Plan and
building Unilever into global industry leader
Company reaffirms 2025 outlook and medium-term
guidance
Unilever today announced that Hein Schumacher is stepping down as
Chief Executive Officer and as a Board Director on 1 March 2025 by
mutual agreement and will leave the company on 31 May
2025.
Fernando Fernandez, currently Unilever Chief Financial Officer and
Executive Director, will be appointed Chief Executive Officer
effective from 1 March 2025. Prior to becoming CFO in January
2024, Fernando had a successful tenure as President of Beauty &
Wellbeing, one of Unilever's fastest growing businesses. In
previous roles as President Latin America, CEO Brazil and CEO
Philippines he led some of the company's best performing markets,
delivering strong financial results while developing exceptional
talent.
Unilever Chairman Ian Meakins said: "On behalf of the Board, I
would like to thank Hein for resetting Unilever's strategy, for the
focus and discipline he has brought to the company and for the
solid financial progress delivered during 2024. Hein introduced and
led a significant productivity programme and the commencement of
the Ice Cream separation, both of which are fully on track. The
Growth Action Plan (GAP) has put Unilever on a path to higher
performance and the Board is committed to accelerating its
execution. We are grateful for Hein's leadership, and we wish him
the very best for the future."
Speaking of Fernando's appointment as CEO, Ian Meakins said: "The
Board has been impressed with Fernando's decisive and
results-oriented approach and his ability to drive change at speed.
He partnered in the development of the GAP and in driving the
productivity programme. He has a strong track record of performance
and portfolio management, a love of brands and a profound knowledge
of Unilever's operations.
"While the Board is pleased with Unilever's performance in 2024,
there is much further to go to deliver best-in-class results.
Having worked with Fernando closely over the
last 14 months,
the Board is very confident in his ability to lead a high
performing management team, realise the benefits of the GAP with
urgency, and deliver the shareholder value that the company's
potential demands."
Hein Schumacher said: "It has been a privilege to lead Unilever. We
have made real progress and I am proud of what we have achieved in
a short period of time. With a clear strategy, a portfolio reset in
motion and a strong leadership team in place, I look forward to
seeing Unilever move from strength to strength in the
future."
Fernando Fernandez said: "Being
appointed as CEO of Unilever is an honour. Our focus will be on
building a future-fit portfolio with an attractive growth footprint
and delivering unmatched functional and perceivable superiority
across our top 30 power brands. I have full confidence in our
team's ability to propel Unilever to a global industry-leading
position and create substantial value for our shareholders. I would
like to thank Hein for his values-led leadership and the
performance focus he has brought to the business. I wish him every
success for the future."
A thorough internal and external search process is being initiated
to appoint a permanent CFO. From 1 March 2025, Srinivas Phatak,
currently Unilever's Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Group
Controller, will become acting CFO. Srinivas has served in global
and local senior finance, strategy and supply chain roles including
a successful term as CFO of Hindustan Unilever Limited. Srinivas'
leadership qualities and his broad experience will enable him to
partner Fernando in successfully executing Unilever's
strategy.
There is no change to Unilever's 2025 outlook or the company's
medium-term guidance.
This announcement contains inside information. This is a public
announcement pursuant to Article 17 Paragraph 1 of the European
Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014), including as it forms part of
UK law.
Summary of remuneration in respect of Directorate
changes
New CEO
Fernando will receive Fixed Pay of Euro 1,800,000 and be eligible
to participate in an annual bonus and Performance Share Plan
awards, all in line with Unilever's existing remuneration
policy.
Full details will be set out in the Remuneration
Report.
Departing CEO
Hein will continue to receive his current level of Fixed Pay (Euro
1,850,000) up to the cessation of his employment on 31 May 2025. He
will then be eligible for a payment in lieu of the remainder of his
notice period.
Hein will be treated as a good leaver under the Remuneration Policy
for the purposes of his outstanding incentives.
Additional details for Hein will be set out in the Section 430(2B)
disclosure that will be made available on the Company's website
following his departure from the Board, and will also be set out in
the Remuneration Report.
ENDS
Enquiries
Media:
Unilever Press Office
Investors:
Investor Relations
Team [email protected]
About Unilever
We are a global consumer goods business with a portfolio of Beauty
& Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Foods and Ice Cream
brands. Our products are used by 3.4 billion consumers every day
from household necessities to premium indulgences. We have around
120,000 employees and generated €60.8bn turnover in
2024.
For more information
about Unilever and our brands, please
visit www.unilever.com.
Safe Harbour
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including
'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including
with relation to Unilever's share buyback, its purpose and
timetable. All statements other than statements of historical fact
are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words and
terminology such as 'will', 'aim', 'expects', 'anticipates',
'intends', 'looks', 'believes', 'vision', 'ambition', 'target',
'goal', 'plan', 'potential', 'work towards', 'may', 'milestone',
'objectives', 'outlook', 'probably', 'project', 'risk', 'seek',
'continue', 'projected', 'estimate', 'achieve' or the negative of
these terms and other similar expressions of future performance,
results, actions or events, and their negatives, are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and
assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors
affecting the Unilever Group (the 'Group'). They are not historical
facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance or outcomes.
All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements
contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Because these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, a number of which may be beyond the
Group's control, there are important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and
assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors
affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they
guarantees of future performance or outcomes. All forward-looking
statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified
in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or
referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or
regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any intention, obligation
or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change
in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not
possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us.
In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our
business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of
factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward-looking statements.
Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the
Group are described in the Group's filings with the London Stock
Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange
Commission, including in the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2023 and
the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2023 available on our
corporate website www.unilever.com.