Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company, Unilever, of firing its CEO Dave Stever over political activism, reigniting a debate about the subsidiary’s independence on social policy issues.
Dave Stever, who was appointed to lead the role in 2023, was reportedly dismissed and replaced without the board’s agreement.
The FMCG giant has also responded to the claim, stating that it followed the proper procedures and was “disappointed” that the situation had been made public by the ice cream company, which is known for its activism on causes such as the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“In line with the terms of the acquisition agreement, decisions on the appointment, compensation and removal of the Ben & Jerry’s CEO will be made by Unilever after good faith consultation and discussion with the B&J’s independent board,” Unilever spokesperson told CNN.
In addition, the ice cream maker said that Unilever had “repeatedly threatened” its employees if they did not “silence” their outspokenness.
“Dave has courageously advanced the company’s social mission and values, has continued to drive innovation in its super premium product range, and has delivered strong financial results, far outpacing the rest of Unilever’s ice-cream business,” Anuradha Mittal, the chair of Ben & Jerry’s independent board told The Guardian.
“What Dave hasn’t done is what Unilever would like him to do, which is to oversee the dismantling of Ben & Jerry’s mission, progressive values.”
Founded in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s was acquired by Unilever in 2000.
This article was first published on sibling website InsideFMCG.
