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Unilever appoints Srinivas Phatak as Chief Financial Officer; pay disclosed

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Unilever PLC has appointed Srinivas Phatak as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, and he will also join the Board and Unilever Leadership Executive. He served as acting CFO since February 2025 after being Deputy CFO and Group Controller. The Board unanimously selected him following an internal and external search, citing his industry and functional experience and performance as acting CFO. Srinivas is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Coats Group plc. His CFO pay includes annual fixed pay of EUR 1.175m, eligibility for annual bonus and Performance Share Plan awards, and localisation support; further details will appear in the 2025 Directors' Remuneration Report.

Positive

  • Continuity of leadership by promoting an internal candidate who served as acting CFO since February 2025
  • Board unanimity on the appointment suggests strong governance support
  • Transparent fixed pay disclosure of EUR 1.175m and confirmation of incentive eligibility

Negative

  • No detailed incentive or long-term compensation metrics provided beyond fixed pay and eligibility
  • No quantified discussion of how the appointment will affect financial targets or cost structure

Insights

TL;DR: Board promoted an internal candidate to CFO with disclosed fixed pay; this is a routine, governance-aligned leadership appointment.

Unilever's unanimous board decision to appoint an experienced internal finance leader signals continuity and limited near-term disruption. The disclosure of fixed pay (EUR 1.175m) and incentive eligibility aligns with existing remuneration policy and provides transparency for investors and remuneration committees. Inclusion on the Board and Leadership Executive indicates Srinivas will have strategic influence. No additional governance concerns or departures were disclosed.

TL;DR: Internal CFO promotion preserves financial leadership continuity; compensation details disclosed but no forward-looking financial impact quantified.

The appointment replaces an acting CFO who served since February 2025, reducing succession uncertainty. The remuneration disclosure is limited to fixed pay and incentive eligibility; material compensation figures beyond fixed pay are not provided. There is no financial guidance, transaction, or restructuring tied to the appointment in this filing, so direct impact on near-term financials remains unspecified.

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________________________________
FORM 6-K
_________________________________________________
 
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the month of September, 2025
Commission File
Number: 001-04546
______________________________________________________
 UNILEVER PLC
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
 _____________________________________________________
 
UNILEVER HOUSE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive office)
______________________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒            Form 40-F ☐
 
 
 
Unilever PLC
Unilever announces new Chief Financial Officer
 
Unilever PLC today announces the appointment of Srinivas Phatak as its new Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") after a thorough internal and external search process. Srinivas's appointment as CFO, and to the Board and Unilever Leadership Executive. is effective immediately.
 
In February 2025, Unilever PLC announced that Srinivas, who was Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Group Controller at the time, would become acting CFO and that a full search would be initiated to appoint a permanent CFO.
 
Following that process, the Unilever Board is in unanimous agreement that Srinivas is the best candidate for the role, due to the strength of his industry and functional experience and having performed strongly as acting CFO.
 
Fernando Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Srinivas has been a great partner over the last six months as acting CFO and over many years as part of the Unilever leadership team. He brings financial rigour, strategic clarity, and a sharp eye for value creation. His leadership and constructive challenge will be very valuable in driving consistent volume growth, margin expansion, and advancing our growth story. I'm confident that, together with the team, we can build a scalable marketing and sales engine that delivers executional excellence across all channels."
 
Srinivas is currently Independent Non-Executive Director on the board of Coats Group plc. There are no further details required to be disclosed by UK Listing Rule 6.4.8R.
 
Details regarding Srinivas's remuneration arrangements are set out below.
 
This announcement is made in accordance with UK Listing Rule 6.4.6R.
 
CFO Remuneration
 
Srinivas will receive annual fixed pay of EUR1.175m, be eligible to receive annual bonus and Performance Share Plan awards, and localisation support, all in line with Unilever's existing remuneration policy. Further information will be provided in the Unilever Directors' Remuneration Report 2025.
 
This announcement contains inside information. This is a public announcement pursuant to Article 17 Paragraph 1 of the European Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014), including as it forms part of UK law.
 
-End-
 
For further information, please contact:
 
Investor Relations: Investor.Relations@unilever.com
Unilever Press Office: Press-Office.London@unilever.com
 
Cautionary Statement
 
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, of the Unilever Group (the "Group"). All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as 'will', 'aim', 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'looks', 'believes', 'vision', 'ambition', 'target', 'goal', 'plan', 'potential', 'work towards', 'may', 'milestone', 'objectives', 'outlook', 'probably', 'project', 'risk', 'seek', 'continue', 'projected', 'estimate', 'achieve' or the negative of these terms, and other similar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can also include, but are not limited to, statements and information regarding the Group's emissions reduction and other sustainability-related targets and other climate and sustainability matters (including actions, potential impacts and risks and opportunities associated therewith). Forward-looking statements can be made in writing but also may be made verbally by directors, officers and employees of the Group in connection with this announcement. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance or outcomes. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
 
Because these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, a number of which may be beyond the Group's control, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
 
The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements.
 
The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
 
Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2024. The Annual Report on Form 20-F 2024 is separately filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and both the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2024 and the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2024 are available on our corporate website: www.unilever.com.
 
 
 
 
Signatures
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
UNILEVER PLC
 
/S/ M VARSELLONA
 
 
 
By M VARSELLONA
 
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER AND GROUP SECRETARY
 
 
 
Date 16 September 2025

FAQ

Who has Unilever (UNLYF) appointed as Chief Financial Officer?

Unilever appointed Srinivas Phatak as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately; he will also join the Board and Unilever Leadership Executive.

When did Srinivas Phatak serve as acting CFO at Unilever?

Srinivas served as acting CFO beginning in February 2025 following his role as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Group Controller.

What is the disclosed annual fixed pay for Unilever's new CFO?

The filing discloses an annual fixed pay of EUR 1.175m for Srinivas Phatak.

Will the new CFO be eligible for bonus or long-term incentives?

Yes; Srinivas is eligible to receive an annual bonus and Performance Share Plan awards, in line with Unilever's remuneration policy.

Does the filing disclose any other roles Srinivas holds?

Yes; he is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director on the board of Coats Group plc.