Unilever names new leader of U.S. Ice Cream business

Unilever announced November 19 the appointment of John LeBoutillier to lead the newly created U.S. Ice Cream Leadership Team. LeBoutillier will join Unilever on December 1, 2007 after a 15-year career at Kraft Foods, where he held senior leadership positions in the coffee, crackers, desserts and beverages businesses. His most recent role was senior vice president and general manager of Kraft’s Coffee Division. Prior to joining Kraft, he spent four years at Ogilvy and Mather. LeBoutillier will chair the newly formed U.S. Ice Cream Leadership Team and will also become a member of Unilever’s North American Foods Regional Operations Leadership Team. He will be based in the company’s U.S. head office in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

“We are delighted to have John join Unilever,” said Michael B. Polk, president, Unilever Americas. “John’s leadership, experience and marketing expertise will be a great asset for Unilever’s Ice Cream business in the United States. With John leading the new U.S. Ice Cream Leadership team, we have the people, the assets and the right business model in place to continue the drive for profitable growth on this important business.”

Eric Walsh, currently chairman, North American Ice Cream, has decided to retire from the business, effective April 1, 2008, following a distinguished career at Unilever, including the last 16 years leading the Ice Cream business.

“Eric has had an extraordinary career at Unilever. Under his leadership, Unilever’s North American Ice Cream business has grown from $200 million to over $1.5 billion,” said Polk. “Thanks to Eric and his team, today this business is a significant portion of the U.S. and Canadian portfolios, with great potential for continued growth. Eric has agreed to work closely with John to transition the business in the U.S. until his retirement at the end of the first quarter.”

Unilever announced Oct. 11 the integration of its North American Ice Cream business into the company’s existing U.S. and Canadian operating units, leading to today’s announcement about the newly formed U.S. organization. Under the company’s One Unilever agenda, the integration is consistent with the move to one operating company per geography and Unilever’s goal to maximize go-to-market opportunities. The new U.S. Ice Cream Business Team and the North American Brand Development and Innovation Leadership Teams will be based in Englewood Cliffs once the relocation from Green Bay, Wis., is complete. As previously announced, the Green Bay office will close at year-end 2008. Some of the company’s supply chain resources will be located in Trumbull, Conn.