Unilever has announced that Hein Schumacher will step down as Chief Executive Officer and Board Director on 1 March 2025 by mutual agreement, officially leaving the company on 31 May 2025. His successor will be Fernando Fernandez, currently Unilever’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, who will take over as CEO from 1 March 2025.
Schumacher’s tenure saw the introduction of Unilever’s Growth Action Plan (GAP), a major productivity program, and the commencement of the Ice Cream business separation, all of which remain on track. Unilever Chairman Ian Meakins praised Schumacher’s leadership, highlighting the strategic reset and financial progress made under his guidance. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Hein for resetting Unilever’s strategy, for the focus and discipline he has brought to the company and for the solid financial progress delivered during 2024,” Meakins said. “We are grateful for his leadership and wish him the very best for the future.”
Fernandez, who became CFO in January 2024, previously led Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing division—one of the company’s fastest-growing businesses. Unilever hair and skin care brands include Dove, Sunsilk, Clear and Vaseline, as well as Dermalogica, Hourglass and Living Proof. Wellbeing brands include Liquid IV and Olly.
He has also held key leadership positions in Latin America, including CEO roles in Brazil and the Philippines, driving strong market performance. Meakins expressed confidence in Fernandez’s ability to accelerate Unilever’s growth, describing him as a decisive leader with a strong track record in portfolio management and brand development.
Fernandez said he was honoured to take on the role and outlined his vision for the company’s future. “Our focus will be on building a future-fit portfolio with an attractive growth footprint and delivering unmatched functional and perceivable superiority across our top 30 power brands,” he said. “ I have full confidence in our team’s ability to propel Unilever to a global industry-leading position.”
With Fernandez stepping into the CEO role, Unilever has begun a search for a new Chief Financial Officer. In the interim, Deputy CFO and Group Controller Srinivas Phatak will serve as acting CFO from 1 March 2025. Phatak, a seasoned executive, has held key global and regional finance roles, including as CFO of Hindustan Unilever Limited.
Unilever confirmed there will be no changes to its 2025 financial outlook or medium-term guidance.
Read the SUMMER ’25 issue of Retail Beauty below:
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