HUL to integrate foods and refreshment units in India

Move in line with Unilever’s global structure; firm makes changes in management

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) will integrate its foods and refreshment categories in India with effect from July 1 in alignment with the structure of Unilever globally.

“This integration will help HUL increase organisational agility and better serve local consumers while harnessing the advantage of global scale,” HUL said in a statement.

Key changes

The company has also announced some key changes in the management committee. Sudhir Sitapati, now executive director, Refreshment, will be re-designated as executive director, Foods and Refreshment, and will be responsible for the integrated Foods and Refreshment (F&R) business. He will continue to be a part of the Management Committee of HUL. Mr. Sitapati joined the company in 1999 and has worked in various roles.

Geetu Verma, who is the now the executive director, Foods, India, will be moving to Rotterdam as Global VP – Nutrition and Natural Platforms, Unilever. This new role is to increase Unilever’s presence in the Health and Wellbeing sector.

The F&R business has delivered consistent growth in India. It lends significant scale to Unilever in the region and will continue to be a strategic priority for the business, HUL said, adding that the company believed this integration would help drive synergies become more agile and more consumer-centric. HUL shares on the BSE rose marginally to close at ₹

1563 . 9 in a weak Mumbai market on Tuesday.