Fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer, Unilever Nigeria Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Tim Kleinebenne as the new Managing Director of the company. The appointment will take effect from May 5, 2023.
This is coming after the resignation of Mr. Carl Cruz. However, in a corporate notice signed by the Company’s Secretary, Afolasade Olowe said Cruz will leave the managing director post on May 4, 2023, after the Annual General Meeting.
The statement reads, “This to notify The Nigerian Exchange and the Investing public that by a Resolution of the Board of Directors of Unilever Nigeria PLC at its Board meeting held on 20 April, 2023 the Board considered and approved the resignation of Mr. Carl Raymond R. Cruz as Managing Director with effect from 4 May, 2023 after the Annual General Meeting.
“The Board of Directors wishes Mr. Cruz all the very best in his future career and would like to express their sincere gratitude to him for his outstanding work which delivered significant rises in both turnover and profit and set Unilever Nigeria on a path to sustainable and profitable growth after steering the company through the difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“On the recommendation of the Governance, Remuneration and Risk Management Committee of the Board of Unilever Nigeria PLC, the Board also considered and approved the appointment of Mr. Tim Kleinebenne as Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria PLC with effect from 5 May 2023.”
Kleinebenne obtained a degree in business economics from the University of Hamburg in Germany. He is currently managing director of Unilever Côte d’Ivoire and had also served as managing director of Unilever Ethiopia, where he established the business and built it into a leading local consumer goods manufacturer, and as managing director of Unilever Caribbean.
He is a highly experienced manager and has 31 years of international experience in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry at Unilever. This includes senior sales and marketing roles as well as over 10 years as managing director of Unilever businesses, two of which were publicly listed.
Unilever said Kleinebenne has occupied various positions in Unilever subsidiaries, serving in senior sales and marketing roles. He was also the Managing Director of Unilever Ethiopia and Managing Director of Unilever Caribbean.