Unilever has appointed Jochanan Senf as the new CEO of Ben & Jerry’s amidst an ongoing dispute with the ice cream brand’s board.
Senf has been involved with the Ben & Jerry’s brand for seven years, providing him with a deep understanding of the product, its economic impact, and social mission, Unilever stated.
The announcement comes as Ben & Jerry’s finds itself entangled in a legal battle with Unilever over the removal of former CEO Dave Stever. Ben & Jerry’s alleges that Stever was fired by the parent company for supporting the brand’s social mission, rather than due to performance issues.
The ice cream maker has accused Unilever of attempting to silence its social mission and interfering with its advocacy efforts, including promoting a ceasefire in Gaza.
As part of the acquisition deal in 2000, Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s agreed that the brand’s independent board could pursue its social mission while financial and operational decisions would be overseen by Unilever.
Ben & Jerry’s board was excluded from the selection process of Stever’s successor, according to The Wall Street Journal, leading to further tensions between the two parties.
Unilever is set to spin off its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry’s, into a new company named The Magnum Ice Cream Company later this year.
Ben & Jerry’s, the top-selling ice cream brand in the U.S., generated $951 million in sales in 2023, as reported by Statista. The U.S. ice cream market is valued at over $19 billion, according to Mintel.