Unilever has promoted Michael Polk to lead its combined food and personal-care business in the U.S.
Polk's appointment as group VP-Unilever U.S. follows a series of management shuffles as Unilever consolidates its two divisions, Foods and Home/Personal Care, into a single unit, prompting the departure of Home/Personal Care's VP-Marketing Resources Michael Murphy in September (Aug. 30 Xtra).
Polk had been Unilever's group VP-Foods, U.S.; he assumes his new role on Jan. 1, 2006. His counterpart, Alan Jope, was promoted to group VP-global spreads, cooking products and dressings in the Foods Category; he has been group VP-home and personal care, U.S.
Polk joined Unilever in 2003 after 16 years at Kraft Foods; his last post there was group VP for Kraft Foods North America and president of the Biscuits, Snacks and Confections unit.
"Mike's appointment marks our commitment to building a single U.S. powerhouse that fully leverages our scale and growth potential in the region. With key management positions, business operations and functions in place, the timing is right for us to announce a single leader for our U.S. business," said Unilever's President-Americas John Rice in a statement.
Jope, a 20-year veteran of Unilever, has held sales and marketing posts in the U.S. and abroad, including stints as division director for Unilever Thailand and as VP-marketing for hair and deodorant brands.
Last month, Unilever promoted Laura Klauberg to VP-shared marketing services and Lisa Klauser to VP-brand building through customers, both new posts for the combined U.S. operations.
