Unilever Proposes New CEO for Ice Cream Business Unit.

Unilever proposes Peter ter Kulve as CEO of its ice cream business, which is part of the company's global operations that reach 3.4 billion consumers daily across 190 countries. Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan aims to drive growth, eliminate costs, and reduce risks. The company has made significant progress, including committing to make all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

Unilever (ULVR) has named Peter ter Kulve as the preferred candidate to lead the Magnum Ice Cream Company, a division set to list on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange this year. Ter Kulve, a long-standing Unilever executive, is currently the company's president of ice cream and is expected to receive the Unilever board's approval for his appointment as CEO next month [1].

The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which controls six of the world's top 10 ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry's, is preparing for its listing. Ben & Jerry's, acquired by Unilever in 2000, has been at odds with ter Kulve and Unilever over its stance on the war in Gaza. The acrimonious relationship between the two parties includes a lawsuit filed by Ben & Jerry's against Unilever, accusing the company of silencing attempts to support Palestinian refugees and end military aid to Israel [1].

Ter Kulve's appointment comes amidst ongoing legal disputes and a challenging relationship with Ben & Jerry's. The Magnum Ice Cream Company generated turnover of €8.3 billion ($9.6 billion) in 2024 and controls 20% of the global ice cream market, according to Barclays, which estimates that Ben & Jerry's is the world's third-largest ice cream brand by sales [1].

Unilever has not commented on the implications of ter Kulve's proposed appointment. The appointment is part of Unilever's broader strategy to drive growth, eliminate costs, and reduce risks through its Sustainable Living Plan. The company has made significant progress in sustainability, including committing to make all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025 [2].

Investors will be watching closely to see how this appointment affects the company's operations and sustainability goals. The Magnum Ice Cream Company's success will be crucial for Unilever's overall financial performance and its ability to meet its sustainability targets.

References:
[1] Reuters. (2025). Unilever proposes Peter ter Kulve as CEO of ice cream spin-off. Retrieved from: https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L1N3SK0U1:0-unilever-proposes-peter-ter-kulve-as-ceo-of-ice-cream-spin-off/
[2] Wickramasinghe, N. (2025). Unilever vs. the world: How one company is winning the race against climate change. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unilever-vs-world-how-one-company-winning-race-nuwan-wickramasinghe-zwd1f