Ben & Jerry's CEO ousted; activism suppression alleged

Ben & Jerry's has announced that its CEO, David Stever, has been removed from his position by parent company Unilever. The ice cream maker claims this decision is part of Unilever's efforts to suppress its activism. In a legal filing with a court in New York, Ben & Jerry's stated that Unilever has threatened its staff, including Stever, if they do not comply with the company's demands. The filing also argues that Stever's removal was made without proper consultation, violating the merger agreement set when Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry's in 2000. This agreement established an independent board to protect the ice cream brand's values. Ben & Jerry's has a history of taking strong public positions on social issues. Stever, who started at the company as a tour guide in 1988, became CEO in 2023. The relationship between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever has faced tension since 2021 when the ice cream company decided to stop sales in the West Bank. Recently, this dispute intensified as Ben & Jerry's called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The company has also filed lawsuits against Unilever, claiming the parent company has attempted to prevent it from supporting Palestinian refugees and publicly criticizing Donald Trump.