Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher Replaced by CFO Fernando Fernandez

Schumacher steps down after less than two years as CEO, as Unilever accelerates its turnaround strategy under Fernandez's leadership.

Unilever announced that Hein Schumacher will step down as CEO on March 1, 2025, and leave the company on May 31, 2025, by mutual agreement.
Fernando Fernandez, currently Unilever's CFO and a 37-year company veteran, will assume the CEO role to drive the next phase of the company's growth plan.
Schumacher's tenure included the introduction of the Growth Action Plan, which focused on cost-cutting, spinning off the ice cream business, and prioritizing top-performing brands.
Despite delivering 4.2% sales growth in 2024, the board determined that more rapid execution of the turnaround strategy was needed.
Unilever's shares fell by up to 3.4% following the announcement, reflecting investor uncertainty about the leadership change.