Paul Polman leaves Nestlé and becomes new CEO of Unilever

Unilever has announced that Patrick Cescau, Group Chief Executive, will retire from Unilever at the end of the year. He has served the business for 35 years and has led Unilever for the last four, initially as Chairman and then as the company’s first Group Chief Executive. The Board intends to appoint Paul Polman, 52, currently Executive Vice President and Zone Director for the Americas at Nestlé SA, as Group Chief Executive to succeed Patrick Cescau.


During his three years tenure, first as Chief Financial Officer and since February 2008 as Head of Zone Americas, Polman has played an important role in Nestlé s conversion to the leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company. "We respect Mr. Polman s decision and thank him for his valuable contribution during his time with Nestlé", said Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of Nestlé S.A.


The Board of Directors of Nestlé S.A. has appointed Luis Cantarell, Executive Vice President, Head of Zone Americas, effective today. Mr. Cantarell, who has been heading Zone Europe, has successfully transformed the Zone, taking it to higher performance levels. Previously he was in charge of establishing Nestlé Nutrition worldwide, acquiring extensive experience with the markets of Zone Americas.


To succeed Mr. Cantarell, the Board of Directors has appointed Laurent Freixe, currently Market Head of the Iberian Region, Executive Vice President in charge of Zone Europe with effect in November 2008. Mr. Freixe, with the Company since 1987, had different marketing functions with Nestlé France, where he successfully led the Nestlé Food and Nutrition division up to 2003. He was then appointed Market Head in Hungary before assuming his current function.