Unilever ousts Ben & Jerry's CEO Dave Stever

Ben & Jerry's has announced that its parent company, Unilever, has decided to remove its CEO, Dave Stever. This change comes as the two companies are in a dispute regarding Ben & Jerry’s independence on social issues. In a court filing, Ben & Jerry's revealed that Unilever informed them on March 3 about Stever’s removal. The company claims Unilever has threatened its employees to suppress its social mission. Stever became CEO in May 2023 and has worked at Ben & Jerry's since 1988. The latest accusations are part of a lawsuit that Ben & Jerry's filed to prevent Unilever from dismantling its independent board and undermining its activism. Ben & Jerry's, known for its socially conscious mission since its founding in 1978, was acquired by Unilever in 2000. Tensions between the two companies escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's stopped selling its products in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Many corporations are reviewing their social policies after facing backlash from conservatives. Recently, Ben & Jerry's also alleged that Unilever forbade it from publicly criticizing former President Trump. Unilever intends to spin off its ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry's, later this year to simplify its product offerings.