ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 01, 2007--
Unilever today announced that it has appointed James A Lawrence as Chief Financial Officer in succession to Rudy Markham.
Mr Lawrence, currently Vice Chairman and CFO of General Mills, will join Unilever on September 1st 2007. Mr Lawrence will take up his duties as CFO immediately upon joining and will be proposed for election to the Boards of Unilever NV and PLC no later than the AGMs in May 2008.
Patrick Cescau, Group Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted to have attracted a candidate with JimŽs background and level of expertise. He is joining us at an exciting time when we are engaged on a major programme of renewal, and JimŽs experience and entrepreneurial skills will be of tremendous value".
Unilever Chairman, Michael Treschow, said: "IŽm pleased to welcome Jim to the Company and to the Board. Despite having excellent internal candidates we believe the fresh insights that his external appointment brings will be of particular value at this time".
Mr Lawrence, 54, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Yale University, has been Chief Financial Officer of General Mills, Inc. since 1998. In 2006 he was additionally appointed Vice Chairman.
Mr Lawrence previously worked at Northwest Airlines as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that he was President, Pepsi-Cola, Asia Middle East and Africa.
Earlier in his career he was with Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company. In 1983 he co-founded LEK Consulting, a business strategy consultancy.
Mr Lawrence currently holds a number of other directorships including at British Airways plc, Avnet Inc. and Physicians Formula Holdings Inc.
Notes to Editors:
-- Under UnileverŽs governance, Board appointments can only be
made by shareholders at a General Meeting.
-- Mr Lawrence will be nominated for election by the shareholders
to the Boards of Unilever no later than the Annual General
Meetings in May 2008.
About Unilever
UnileverŽs mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life.
Unilever is one of the worldŽs leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its portfolio includes some of the worldŽs best known and most loved brands including twelve EUR 1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as Flora, Bertolli, Dove, Lux, PondŽs, Lynx, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and Domestos.
Unilever has around 179,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated annual sales of EUR 40 billion in 2006. For more information about Unilever and its brands, visit www.unilever.com.
SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT:
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including Žforward-looking statementsŽ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ŽexpectsŽ, ŽanticipatesŽ, ŽintendsŽ or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, including financial objectives to 2010, and their negatives are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain sources, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures, physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the GroupŽs filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report & Accounts on Form 20-F. These 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 obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the GroupŽs expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
CONTACT: Unilever USA
Anita Larsen, Director - Media Relations
201-894-7760
mediarelations.usa@unilever.com
SOURCE: Unilever
Copyright Business Wire 2007
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