Overview

• Greenfield announced his exit on Sept. 17 after 47 years, saying Unilever and its Magnum unit had silenced the brand’s values-driven messaging.
• Ben Cohen blamed conflicts with Unilever for Greenfield’s decision and said he will push for change from inside the company.
• Unilever rejected Greenfield’s characterization, reaffirmed Ben & Jerry’s three-part mission, and described the brand as a thriving part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company.
• The demerger of Unilever’s ice-cream business into The Magnum Ice Cream Company is underway, with reports indicating completion around mid-November 2025.
• The resignation follows protracted legal and governance battles, including lawsuits after Ben & Jerry’s halted sales in Israeli-occupied territories in 2021 that allege Unilever curtailed the brand’s ability to speak.