Unilever CFO Huët makes way for internal promotion

ONE OF THE UK’s best-known finance directors is to leave his role.

Unilever’s Jean-Marc Huët (pictured) is stepping down in October 2015 after nearly six years in the role. Taking on the job at the deodorant-to-ice cream-maker is Graeme Pitkethly, an internal promotion.

Pitkethly joined Unilever in 2002 and currently serves as executive vice president of the Unilever UK and Ireland business. Previously, he held financially-focused positions at the company, including head of M&A, head of treasury, pensions and tax and CFO of Unilever Indonesia. He also held the senior VP finance of the global markets operation.

Huët said: “I have had an excellent and very rewarding period of time at Unilever and fully achieved what I set out to do when I joined the organisation in 2010. I am delighted with the progress Unilever has made over the past five and a half years and particularly the work we have done to strengthen the overall finance function.

“I am now looking forward to ensuring a seamless transition to my successor, Graeme Pitkethly, and then spending some time deciding what new opportunities to pursue.”

Both Unilever’s chairman and chief executive praised Huët’s contribution, with chief Paul Polman saying he had helped to “build and strengthen” Unilever’s standing with the financial community, “and has spent considerable time in developing a strong internal talent pipeline, which is today reflected in the appointment of Graeme Pitkethly”.

Huët joined Unilever in 1999, having held a similar role at Bristol Myers-Squibb.
On his departure Huët will receive a pro-rata discretionary bonus, paid in March 2016.