Unilever Appoints Ben & Jerry’s CEO Amid Board Dispute

Unilever has appointed Jochanan Senf as the global CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, effective mid-July, escalating tensions with the brand’s independent board, which claims it was not properly consulted in the decision. Senf, a seasoned Unilever executive and former managing director of Ben & Jerry’s Europe, brings extensive experience in the ice cream and food industries, having driven significant growth and market presence for the brand in Europe and beyond. This leadership change follows the controversial exit of former CEO David Stever, who the independent board alleges was ousted by Unilever for refusing to block Ben & Jerry’s public support for Palestinian refugees, a move the board views as breaching their agreement to safeguard the brand’s social mission. Unilever maintains that the changes are part of a broader leadership review and operational restructuring ahead of spinning off its ice cream division, which includes Ben & Jerry’s. The dispute highlights ongoing challenges balancing corporate control with the brand’s historic commitment to social activism and independent governance. Despite the controversy, analysts remain generally optimistic about Unilever’s future stock performance, with several brokerage firms rating it as an outperform stock.