Menu Home NewsPress releases Current page Changes to the Unilever Leadership Executive Changes to the Unilever Leadership Executive Published: 01/12/2021 Average read time: 3 minutes London - Unilever today announced some changes to the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE). Ritva Sotamaa, Chief Legal Officer & Group Secretary has decided to retire from the company at the end of March 2022. Ritva joined Unilever in 2013, and in 2018 was appointed Group Secretary, in addition to her Chief Legal Officer role. She will be succeeded by Maria Varsellona, General Counsel & Company Secretary for global technology company ABB Ltd. Prior to joining ABB in November 2019, Maria was Chief Legal Officer of Nokia, as well as President of Nokia Technologie. Before joining Nokia, she held senior legal positions in Tetra Laval Group, Switzerland; GE in Italy; and Hertz Europe. In addition, Marc Engel, Chief Supply Chain Officer has decided to leave Unilever in April 2022. Marc’s career at Unilever spans 30 years, and he has been a member of the ULE for the past six years. He will be succeeded by Reginaldo Ecclissato, currently Executive Vice President Mexico, Central America and Greater Caribbean. Reginaldo has over 30 years’ experience with Unilever, working across both developed and emerging markets. Prior to his most recent role, he was Executive Vice President of Unilever’s Americas Supply Chain. Reginaldo will assume the role from 1 January 2022 and will join the ULE at the same time. Alan Jope, Unilever CEO, commented, "On behalf of everyone at Unilever I would like to thank Ritva and Marc for their tremendous contribution over the course of their careers with us. “Ritva has built a first-class legal function at Unilever, brought great leadership to our business integrity agenda, and was instrumental in the successful unification of our dual-headed legal structure. I am very thankful for her wisdom, advice and support over many years, and wish her the very best for the future. “Marc’s leadership of our supply chain has been critical to Unilever becoming a faster, more resilient and more sustainable business. I am very grateful for Marc’s contributions over his long career with Unilever, and in particular for his stewardship of our supply chain through the many challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic over the last two years. “At the same time, I am delighted to welcome Maria to Unilever and look forward to working closely with her. Maria’s deep experience and strong track record of delivery make her ideally placed to support the next stage of Unilever’s journey. “I am also very pleased that, in Reginaldo, we have an internal successor with extensive supply chain experience, who has overseen significant business growth and brought impressive leadership to the Mexico, Central America and Greater Caribbean region.” Related links Images are available on the Media assets page. Media Contacts Tara Hewitt +44 7585 952801 tara.hewitt@unilever.com Lucila Zambrano +44 7825 273767 lucila.zambrano@unilever.com Unilever Press Office press-office.london@unilever.com Safe Harbour Where relevant, these actions are subject to the appropriate consultations and approvals. This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ‘will’, ‘aim’, ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘looks’, ‘believes’, ‘vision’, or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Unilever Group (the ‘Group’). They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Among other risks and uncertainties, the material or principal factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are: Unilever’s global brands not meeting consumer preferences; Unilever’s ability to innovate and remain competitive; Unilever’s investment choices in its portfolio management; the effect of climate change on Unilever’s business; Unilever’s ability to find sustainable solutions to its plastic packaging; significant changes or deterioration in customer relationships; the recruitment and retention of talented employees; disruptions in our supply chain and distribution; increases or volatility in the cost of raw materials and commodities; the production of safe and high quality products; secure and reliable IT infrastructure; execution of acquisitions, divestitures and business transformation projects; economic, social and political risks and natural disasters; financial risks; failure to meet high and ethical standards; and managing regulatory, tax and legal matters. A number of these risks have increased as a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2020. 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