Unilever boss announces retirement

Group chief executive of Unilever, Patrick Cescau, is to retire at the end of the year after 35 years’ service with the company.

His replacement is Paul Polman, who recently quit his role as executive vice-president in charge of Zone Americas for Nestle.

Michael Trescow, chairman of Unilever, said of Cescau: “We are greatly in his debt for the transformation he has brought about over the last four years. Liked and admired in equal measure, he leaves a substantial record on which to build.”

Polman’s successor at Nestle has been named as Luis Cantarell, formerly head of Nestle’s Zone Europe.