Unilever’s chief sustainability officer adds public affairs to responsibilities
The move harkens back to the earlier days of the chief sustainability officer role, when it was often part of public relations and marketing. Read More
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Unilever’s long-time sustainability chief Rebecca Marmot, who joined the company in an external affairs role in 2007, is reportedly adding that responsibility to her job description as part of the company’s reorganization.
The move was triggered by the departure of Paul Matthews, global head of communications and corporate affairs, according to an internal email sent by Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher reviewed by the Financial Times.
Communications and sustainability are increasingly being affected by external policy, Schumacher said in the memo. The sustainability and communications teams have been merged as a result.
Certain European multinationals corporations — Unilever is headquartered in London — must start disclosing emissions data and other sustainability metrics under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in January. Many companies are also struggling with how to market their environmental plans as progress stalls.
As sustainability becomes integrated into day-to-day operations, organizational structures are shifting. Unilever’s move harkens back to the earlier days of the chief sustainability officer role, when it was often part of corporate public relations and marketing functions.
Mars also marries its corporate affairs and sustainability functions, which fall under Mars Global Vice President Andy Pharoah, as does Reckitt Benckiser with Fabricc Beaulieu, chief marketing, sustainability and corporate affairs officer. Coca-Cola’s sustainability chief, Beatriz Perez, likewise has responsibility for communications as well as strategic partnerships.
Managing external affairs is familiar territory for Marmot, who was global external affairs director for L’Oreal before moving over to Unilever. She was also the face of Unilever’s high-profile review of 27 of its 600 trade association relationships, published in early March, which examined the organizations’ policy stances for alignment with Unilever’s own goals.
Unilever declined to comment.
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