Unilever’s UK chairman Amanda Sourry takes on global hair care role

Unilever has appointed its UK and Ireland chairman and former marketer Amanda Sourry to a global hair care role.

Unilever

Sourry joined Unilever 25 years ago and held a number of marketing and brand manager roles in markets including the US and UK, as well as globally, most recently as head of its spreads and dressings business. She was appointed to run Unilever’s UK and Ireland business in 2010 and will remain in the UK in her new role.

She will be replaced by Graeme Pitkethly, currently senior vice president of finance in Unilever’s global markets. He will report to European president Jan Zijderveld.

The UK is one of Unilever’s key markets, its largest in Europe and fourth largest globally. In its first quarter, Unilever posted a 3.6 per cent increase in underlying sales but said growth in the UK outpaced other European markets.

Pitkethly says: “Unilever has performed very strongly in the UK & Ireland under Amanda’s leadership during a sea change in the grocery industry. It’s a hugely exciting time for me to take the helm and I look forward to working with our outstanding Unilever UK & Ireland team to drive sustainable, brand-led growth in the marketplace through strong customer partnerships.”

In other moves, Jill Ross, Unilever’s managing director of customer development for Unilever Ireland will take over the same role for the whole of the UK. She succeeds James Simmons, who is moving to a managing director role for Unilever in the Caribbean.

Recommended