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Corporate governance
It generally meets formally every two or three weeks and
is chaired, alternately, by the Chairmen of NV and PLC. It
also meets with specific Business Groups and Corporate
Centre departments. The Committee is supplied with
information by the Executive Committee Secretariat.
Audit Committee The Audit Committee normally
comprises three Advisory Directors and meets at least
twice a year. Since 4 May 1999 it has been chaired by
Hilmar Kopper, and its other members have been Claudio
X Gonzalez and Onno Ruding. It reviews financial
statements before publication and oversees financial
reporting and control arrangements. The head of our
internal audit function and our external auditors attend
the Committee’s meetings and have direct access to its
Chairman. The Chief Auditor ensures that the Committee
is supplied with necessary information.
External Affairs and Corporate Relations Committee
The External Affairs and Corporate Relations Committee
usually comprises three Advisory Directors and normally
meets four times a year. Since 4 May 1999 it has been
chaired by Lady Chalker, and its other members have been
Oscar Fanjul and Senator George Mitchell. It advises on
external matters of relevance to the business – including
issues of corporate social responsibility – and reviews our
corporate relations strategy. The Committee is supplied
with necessary information by the Head of the Corporate
Relations Department.
Nomination Committee The Nomination Committee
comprises three Advisory Directors and the Chairmen of
NV and PLC and meets at least once a year. Since 4 May
1999 it has been chaired by Frits Fentener van Vlissingen
and its other members have been Sir Derek Birkin,
Bertrand Collomb, Antony Burgmans and Niall FitzGerald.
It recommends to the Boards candidates for the positions
of Director, Advisory Director and Executive Committee
member. The Committee is supplied with information by
the Joint Secretaries.
Remuneration Committee The Remuneration Committee
normally comprises three Advisory Directors and meets at
least twice a year. Since 4 May 1999 it has been chaired
by Frits Fentener van Vlissingen, and its other members
have been Sir Derek Birkin and Bertrand Collomb. It
reviews our executive remuneration and is responsible for
the Executive Share Option Scheme. The Committee
determines specific remuneration packages for each of the
directors. The Committee is supplied with information by
the Head of the Private Administration Department.
Routine business committees Committees are set up to
conduct routine business as and when they are necessary.
They comprise any two of the directors and certain senior
executives. They administer certain matters previously
agreed by the Boards or the Executive Committee.
The Joint Secretaries are responsible for the operation
of these committees.
All committees are formally set up by Board resolution
with carefully defined remits. They report regularly and
are responsible to the Boards of NV and PLC.
Executive Committee of the Boar d
Antony Burgmans*
Chairman, Unilever N.V.
Aged 53. Chairman of Unilever N.V. and Vice-Chairman
of Unilever PLC since 4 May 1999. Joined Unilever 1972.
Appointed director 8 May 1991. Previous posts include:
Personal Products Co-ordinator 91/94. Responsible for South
European Foods business 94/96. Business Group President, Ice
Cream & Frozen Foods – Europe and Chairman of Unilever
Europe Committee 96/98. Vice-Chairman of Unilever N.V.
1998. Member, Supervisory Board of ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Niall FitzGerald*
Chairman, Unilever PLC
Aged 54. Chairman of Unilever PLC and Vice-Chairman of
Unilever N.V. since 7 May 1996. Joined Unilever 1967. Appointed
director 20 May 1987. Previous posts include: Financial Director
87/89. Edible Fats & Dairy Co-ordinator 89/90. Member, Foods
Executive 89/91. Detergents Co-ordinator 91/95. Member
of Special Committee 1996.
Clive Butler*
Category Director, Home & Personal Care
Aged 53. Category Director, Home & Personal Care since 1996.
Joined Unilever 1970. Appointed director 6 May 1992. Previous
posts include: Corporate Development Director 1992. Personnel
Director 93/96. Non-executive director of Lloyds TSB Group plc.
Patrick Cescau*
Financial Director
Aged 51. Financial Director since 1999. Joined Unilever 1973.
Appointed director 4 May 1999. Previous posts include:
Chairman, Indonesia 91/95. President, Van den Bergh Foods, USA
95/97. President, Lipton, USA 97/98. Controller and Deputy
Financial Director 98/99.
Alexander Kemner*
Category Director, Foods
Aged 60. Category Director, Foods since 1996. Joined Unilever
1966. Appointed director 3 May 1989. Previous posts include:
Food & Drinks Co-ordinator 89/90. Member, Foods Executive
89/92. Regional Director, East Asia & Pacific 93/96.
Rudy Markham*
Strategy & Technology Director
Aged 53. Strategy & Technology Director since 1998. Joined
Unilever 1968. Appointed director 6 May 1998. Previous posts
include: Business Group President, North East Asia 96/98.