Unilever PLC has announced the appointment of Ian Meakins as a non-executive director and chair designate, effective September 1.

Ian will succeed Nils Andersen as Chair on December 1. Nils will step down from the Board, after nine years of service, at Unilever’s Annual General Meeting in May 2024.

Ian, who comes with significant global business experience across a diverse range of industries, is joining Unilever from Compass Group PLC and Rexel SA where he works as chair.  

Previously, he served as chief executive of Wolseley plc (now Ferguson plc) from 2009 to 2016. Travelex Holdings Ltd, Alliance Unichem plc, Diageo, Bain & Company, and Procter & Gamble were other companies where he worked previously.

Nils Andersen said: “I am delighted to welcome Ian to the Board following a thorough global search process. Ian has a strong track record of success in executive and non-executive roles across a range of industries. I am sure Unilever will greatly benefit from his extensive experience and I am confident that he will provide the Board with strong and effective leadership.”

Ian Meakins said: “I look forward to working with the Board and with Hein and his leadership team to help realise Unilever’s full potential and create value for all its stakeholders.”

“Nils chaired the company through significant volatility and some of the most challenging operational conditions in decades. He was instrumental in sharpening Unilever’s focus on operational performance, creating a simpler and more agile company by unifying Unilever NV and PLC into one legal structure, and implementing our new category-focused organisation,” said Hein Schumacher, Unilever CEO.