Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has stepped down from the company, citing the loss of independence that he and co-founder Ben Cohen had built into its governance when they sold the business to Unilever more than two decades ago.
“It’s with a broken heart that I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s,” Greenfield said in a statement shared by Cohen on X.
“I am resigning from the company Ben and I started back in 1978. This is one of the hardest and most painful decisions I’ve ever made. This isn’t because I’ve lost my love for the people at Ben & Jerry’s.”
Ben & Jerry’s, acquired by Unilever in 2000, has long been known for its outspoken stance on social justice issues.
Greenfield said the company had historically used its autonomy to “stand up and speak out in support of peace, justice, and human rights, not as abstract concepts, but in relation to real events happening in our world.”
“It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone,” he added.
Responding to his departure, a spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company – Unilever, expressed gratitude for Greenfield’s tenure with the company.
“We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in constructive discussions on strengthening Ben & Jerry’s values-based position in the world,” the spokesperson added.
“We thank him for his decades of service and support, and wish him well in his next chapter.”
This article was first published on sibling website Inside FMCG.
