Unilever has announced Nitin Paranjpe is to become its chief operating officer (COO), a new role for the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant.
The Knorr and Magnum maker said Paranjpe, the president of the company’s foods and refreshment division, will be “responsible for all of Unilever’s go-to-market organisations, driving and co-ordinating in-year performance across our countries in line with our divisional strategies”.
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The company claimed the move, alongside other leadership appointments, continues its “transformation into a faster, leaner and more agile company”.
“The changes build on our creation of three global divisions last year – beauty and personal care; foods and refreshment; and home care – and are designed to further strengthen the execution of our strategy in our markets,” Unilever said in a statement today (14 March).
Amongst other changes, Hanneke Faber, the president of Unilever’s businesses in Europe, has been appointed to replace Paranjpe as president of the foods and refreshment arm. Sanjiv Mehta, executive vice president for Unilever’s operations in south Asia, has been promoted to president of the unit and will also join the company’s leadership executive.
Faber’s former role of president for Unilever’s businesses in Europe will not be replaced. Neither will the position of executive vice president for the company’s opertaions in south-east and Australasia. Peter ter Kulve, who had held that job and been Unilever’s chief digital officer, has been named president of the company’s home care division, replacing Kees Kruythoff, who is leaving the group after more than two decades.
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By GlobalDataThe country organisations in Europe, south-east Asia and Australasia will report into Paranjpe.
Unilever CEO Alan Jope, who took the helm at the start of the year, said: “Today’s increasingly fragmented consumer, channel and media environment requires us to operate with more speed and agility than ever before. With his deep knowledge and experience of our markets, Nitin is ideally placed to work with me and the Unilever leadership executive to drive our performance and help deliver our growth ambitions.
All changes will be effective from 1 May.
