New Appointments

Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
2 October 2000


BESTFOODS EXECUTIVES APPOINTED TO TOP POSITIONS IN

UNILEVER'S NEW FOODS DIVISION

 
Seven senior Bestfoods executives were today named by Unilever among the top
positions for the newly created Foods Division.
 
The announcement comes shortly after the EU approved the merger of the
businesses. Earlier today shareholders of Unilever and of Bestfoods voted
overwhelmingly in favour of the creation of one of the world's leading foods
businesses.
 
The Bestfoods appointments, effective from January 1, 2001 comprise Anthony
Simon, who becomes President, Marketing; Diego Bevilacqua as President,
Foodservice; Neil Beckerman as President, Foods North America; Oscar
Imbellone as Executive Vice President, Foods Latin America; Richard Oppenheim
who becomes Executive Vice President Foods, Europe; and Jim Liberty as Senior
Vice President, Human Resources. Merrill Eastman remains President, Bestfoods
Baking Company.
 
Unilever reported that Dick Shoemate, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Bestfoods, had elected not to continue a full-time executive role, but will
be appointed an Advisory Director of Unilever. Roy Brown, a director of
Unilever, will relinquish on medical advice his role as President, Foods and
Beverages Europe with effect from January 1, 2001. He will retire at next
year's annual general meeting.
 
At the same time, Unilever has announced a number of key appointments in its
new Foods and Home and Personal Care (HPC) Divisions.

Unilever Chairmen, Niall FitzGerald and Antony Burgmans said: 'We have moved
rapidly following the approvals from shareholders and the regulatory
authorities to settle these appointments. We have put in place teams in our
Foods and HPC divisions that will drive Unilever forward to its challenging
Path to Growth goals of accelerated growth and enhanced operating margins. We
are delighted that so many excellent Bestfoods managers have decided to join
their Unilever colleagues in what we are confident will be an outstanding
leadership team.'


Note to Editors: 1. For full details of appointments, see attached. 2.
Details of Unilever's new structure can be accessed on www.unilever.com 
 

REALIGNMENT OF UNILEVER SENIOR MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

 
On August 4, 2000, Unilever announced an evolution of its top management
structure, creating two global divisions - one for Foods and one for Home and
Personal Care (HPC). Patrick Cescau and Keki Dadiseth, both directors of
Unilever, have been appointed Foods Director and HPC Director respectively
with effect from January 1, 2001. 
 
Today's announcement names senior appointments within these Divisions.  
 

Foods Division Appointments w.e.f. 1.01. 2001

Regions

Roy Brown, will relinquish his position of President, Foods and Beverages
Europe with effect from 01.01.2001. He will retire at next year's AGM.
 
Neil Beckerman, Vice President, Bestfoods and President, Bestfoods Grocery,
will be appointed President, Foods North America.
 
John Rice, President & Chief Executive Officer, Lipton USA, will be appointed
President, Foods Latin America and President of Slimfast worldwide. Oscar
Imbellone, Vice President, Bestfoods and President, Bestfoods Latin America ,
will be appointed Executive Vice President, Foods Latin America.
 
Manfred Stach, President, Africa, will lead the Unilever/Bestfoods
integration team for Foods Europe with effect from 1.10.2000. He will be
appointed President, Foods Europe w.e.f. 1.01.2001. He will be supported by
two Executive Vice Presidents - Kees van der Graaf, currently Executive Vice
President, Operations Foods and Beverages Europe, and Richard Oppenheim,
currently General Manager, Bestfoods UK and Vice President, Bestfoods Europe.
 
Merrill Eastman remains President, Bestfoods Baking Company.
 
Jean Martin, President, Central and Eastern Europe will lead the team working
on the global integration of Unilever Foods and Bestfoods.
 
 

Global Businesses

As previously announced two global businesses will be created within the
Foods division.
 
Rob Polet, President, Ice Cream and Frozen Foods Europe, will be appointed
President, Ice Cream and Frozen Foods.
 
Diego Bevilacqua, Vice President, Bestfoods and President, Bestfoods Asia,
will be appointed President, Foodservice.
 

Foods Functions

Anthony Simon, Vice President Strategy and Core Businesses, Bestfoods, will
be appointed President, Marketing.
 
Norman Clubb, Senior Vice President Finance, Central Asia and Middle East ,
will be appointed Senior Vice President, Finance and Information.
 
Gerard Hoetmer, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain, Food and Beverages
Europe, will be appointed Senior Vice President, Supply Chain.
 
Jim Liberty, Vice President, Human Resources, Bestfoods Europe, will be
appointed Senior Vice President, Human Resources.
 
Ed Veltkamp, Senior Vice President, Foods Research, URL Vlaardingen, the
Netherlands, will be appointed Senior Vice President, Research and
Development.

HPC Division Appointments

Regions

Charles Strauss, a director of Unilever, retains his current responsibility
as President, Home & Personal Care North America which includes
responsibility for the global Prestige business.
 
John Sharpe retains his current responsibility as President, Home & Personal
Care Europe until 1.04.2001, when he will retire as planned after 37 years'
Unilever service.
 
Ralph Kugler retains his current responsibility as President, Latin America
until 31.12.2000. On 1.04.2001 he will succeed John Sharpe as President, Home
& Personal Care Europe.
 
Harish Manwani, Senior Vice President, Home & Personal Care Category Group,
will be appointed to Executive Vice President, HPC Latin America from
1.10.2000. On 1.04.2001 he will be appointed President, Home & Personal Care
Latin America.
 
Tex Gunning retains his current responsibility as President, East Asia
Pacific. He will also represent the region on the Foods executive.
 
Jeff Fraser, President, Central Asia and Middle East , will be appointed
President, Central Asia and China . Bruno Lemagne retains his current
responsibility for China until August 2001, reporting to Jeff Fraser. Bruno
Lemagne's next appointment will be announced in due course.
 
Anton Lenstra, Executive Vice President, Home and Personal Care Europe, will
be appointed President, Africa, Middle East and Turkey ( AMET ) w.e.f
1.10.2000. Rachid Rachid, Chairman, Unilever Egypt, will be appointed
Executive Vice President, AMET and will represent the region on the Foods
Executive.

 
Global Business 
Cetin Yuceulug retains his current responsibility as President, Diversey
Lever.
 

Function Appointments w.e.f. 1 January 2001

Simon Clift, Chairman of the Personal Care Category Group, Latin America,
will be appointed President, Marketing.
 
John Ripley, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Strategy and
Technology Group, will be appointed Senior Vice President, Finance &
Information.
 
Ian Midgley, Vice President, Operations/MAST, Latin America , will be
appointed Senior Vice President, Supply Chain.
 
Naren Nanda, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Strategy and Technology
Group, will be appointed Senior Vice President, Human Resources.
 
Lincoln Krochmal, Senior Vice President, Home & Personal Care Research,
Strategy and Technology Group, will be appointed Senior Vice President,
Research and Development
 
Ton Van Der Laan, retains his current responsibility as Senior Vice
President, International Customer Development.