Hein Schumacher
Hein Schumacher was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Unilever PLC in June 2022 and his appointment took effect in October 2022. He is a member of the Audit Committee.
Hein was announced as CEO of Unilever in January 2023, and he will take on the role on 1 July 2023.
Non-Executive Director
Hein Schumacher, 51, is a global business leader with an excellent track record in the consumer goods industry.
He has been CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina, an €11bn business operating in over 40 countries – and with products sold in over 100 - since January 2018. During this time, Hein has delivered significant portfolio and organisation change as part of transforming it into a more focused, growth-driven and sustainable business. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Hein was Royal Friesland Campinas’s Chief Financial Officer for three years.
Prior to joining Royal FrieslandCampina, Hein worked for H.J. Heinz for over a decade. In 2008 he was appointed Chief Strategy Officer, before moving to China in 2011 as its President and CEO. In 2013, he was appointed Executive Vice President of Kraft Heinz’s Asia Pacific Zone and led a successful turnaround of the business, which spanned China, Indonesia, India, Japan and Oceania.
Earlier in his career, Hein worked in finance as Corporate Controller, Asia and Central America for Royal Ahold NV. He began his career at Unilever.
Hein holds a Masters degree in Political Science and International Relations from University of Amsterdam.
He is married, with three children.
History
- 2023: Appointed CEO of Unilever from 1 July 2023.
- October 2022: Appointed a Non-Executive Director of Unilever PLC and a member of Unilever’s Audit Committee
- 2018: Chief Executive Officer of Koninklijke FrieslandCapina NV
- 2014 - January 2018: Chief Financial Officer of Koninklijke FrieslandCapina NV
- 2003 - January 2014: Variety of senior management/executive positions in Kraft Heinz Foods Company
- 2001 - January 2003: Corporate Controller, Asia and Central America at Ahold NV