Unilever chairman Marijn Dekkers steps down

Consumer goods giant Unilever said on Wednesday that chairman Marijn Dekkers has stepped down from the board with immediate effect.

Non-executive director Nils Andersen has been appointed as his successor.

Unilever said Dekkers, who has been chairman since 2016, had decided to stand down "to focus on his growing responsibilities" as founder and chairman of investment and advisory firm Novalis LifeSciences. He will continue to serve as a non-executive director.

Andersen, who has served on the Unilever board since 2015, has "significant" business experience, the company said, having been chief executive of Danish container logistics group AP Moller-Maersk from 2007 to 2016 and president and CEO of Carlsberg from 2001 to 2007.

Dekkers said: "My decision to step down has been a difficult one to make but I look forward to seeing Unilever go from strength to strength under Nils as chairman."