| Banga, Manwani bag top Unilever jobs |
| Our Web Bureau / Mumbai February 10, 2005 |
| Vindi Banga has been named president, food, and Harish Manwani has been named president, Asia/Africa, in a top-level reshuffle announced by Unilever today. According to a release posted on the company website, the dual chairman /CEO structure is being abandoned. Antony Burgmans, currently chairman of Unilever NV, will become non-executive chairman of both Unilever NV and Unilever PLC. Patrick Cescau, currently chairman of Unilever PLC, will take on the role of group chief executive responsible for all operations. The new executive team, chaired by Cesau, will replace the executive committee and divisions. "The current executive committee, the foods and home and personal care (HPC) divisions and the 11 business groups will be eliminated. Full executive authority will be devolved to the Group CEO and his new operating team. This will consist of three regional presidents (Europe, Americas, Asia/Africa), two category presidents of foods and HPC, the chief financial officer and the chief human resources officer," the release added. Apart from Banga and Mawani, the other members of the executive committee team are Rudy Markham, CFO, Kees van der Graaf, president, Europe, Ralph Kugler, president, home and personal care, John Rice, president, Americas and Sandy Ogg, chief human resources officer. "The number of executive directors will be reduced from seven to four. Implementation will begin immediately, and the new organisation will be effective from April 2005," the release added. Antony Burgmans said: "Today is a hugely important day in the long and distinguished history of our company. We have recognised the need for greater clarity of leadership and we are moving to a simpler leadership structure that will provide a sharper operational focus. We are leaving behind one of the key features of Unilever |
