President Global Foods, Home, and Personal Care
Unilever

Unilever is the third largest consumer goods company in the world with turnover of over $53Bn. Everyday two billion consumers in half of the world’s households use a Unilever product. Michael Polk, serves on the Executive Board (UEx) of Unilever.

Mike is the President, Global Foods, Home, and Personal Care. He has responsibility for the development, innovation, and marketing of all of Unilever’s brands and categories globally. Unilever’s ten Global Category Business Units and the R&D organization responsible for the design and deployment of Unilever’s quality and innovation agenda report to Mike.

Mike joined Unilever in 2003 as Chief Operating Officer, Unilever Foods USA and in 2005 became President, Unilever USA. Mike led the transformation of Unilever in the United States from three separate businesses into one integrated organization while at the same time accelerating growth and profit delivery of this $9Bn business.

In 2007, Mike was appointed to Unilever’s Executive Board as President, Americas. In this capacity he had P&L responsibility for Unilever $19Bn business in both North America and Latin America. He led three consecutive years of accelerating results while strengthening the Americas portfolio and organization. Mike also had responsibility for the Global Customer Development function where he and his team built Unilever’s capabilities creating the industry leading Customer Innovation & Insight Centre and culminating in Wal-Mart and Tesco’s recognition of Unilever as their Global Supplier of the Year (2009).

Prior to joining Unilever, Mike had a sixteen year career at Kraft Foods where he was President, Asia Pacific Region and President, Biscuits, Snacks, & Confections Sector. Mike led the integration of Nabisco into Kraft in Asia and North America. Prior to Kraft, Mike spent three years at The Procter & Gamble Company in Paper Manufacturing and Research & Development.

Mike is Non-Executive Director, Newell-Rubbermaid Corporation where he serves as a member of the audit committee. Mike is the Unilever Lead Director on the Pepsi Lipton Joint Venture. Mike is a member of the Executive Committee of the Boards of the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) and the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2009, Mike was recognized by Business Week magazine as one of the world’s CEO’s of Tomorrow.