Ben & Jerry’s claims Unilever unlawfully fired its CEO over political points
Ben & Jerry’s says its mum or dad firm Unilever unlawfully fired its CEO David Stever over disputes involving the model’s social mission and taking a stance on polarizing political points.
In an amended grievance filed within the Southern District of New York late Tuesday, the ice cream model recognized for its outspoken views on human rights and the surroundings, stated that UK-based Unilever’s dismissal of Stever violated a merger settlement which prevents the unilateral elimination of Ben & Jerry’s CEO.
The 2000 settlement stipulates that the CEO’s elimination can solely happen “after good religion session with, and the participation within the dialogue of, an advisory committee of the Firm Board,” in line with the Vermont-based firm’s grievance. The impartial board, it says, was established for speaking the model’s social mission and model identification.
Ongoing clashes
Ben & Jerry’s impartial board and Unilever have persistently clashed over the model’s public stance on social issues. In 2022, Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever for stopping the corporate from halting gross sales of its merchandise within the occupied West Financial institution. A federal decide later rejected the request.
“For over 4 a long time, the corporate has pursued its distinctive Social MIssion through its public, progressive stances on points reminiscent of migrant justice, LGBTQ+ rights, Black Lives Matter, GMO labeling, and quite a lot of different financial and social causes affecting traditionally marginalized communities,” the grievance states. “Unilever has repeatedly halted Ben & Jerry’s social mission in direct contravention of the settlement settlement.”
Stever, the ousted CEO, had been a 34-year veteran of the corporate, beginning his profession in 1988 as a tour information, in line with Ben & Jerry’s web site. Earlier than assuming the position of CEO, he served as the corporate’s chief advertising and marketing officer for 12 years. His appointment to the highest put up marked the primary time a workers member had been promoted to CEO from inside the firm.
Ben & Jerry’s preliminary lawsuit, filed in November 2024, accused Unilever of blocking it from talking out in assist of Palestinian refugees, thereby partaking in “inappropriate muzzling.” In response to the grievance, Unilever threatened “Ben & Jerry’s personnel ought to the corporate communicate out relating to points that Unilever prefers to censor.”
On March 3, Unilever took steps to take away and change Stever as CEO. The lawsuit alleges that relatively than efficiency points, Unilever’s “motive for eradicating Mr. Stever is his dedication to Ben & Jerry’s social mission and important model integrity and his willingness to collaborate in good religion with the impartial board.”
Neither Unilever nor Ben & Jerry’s responded to CBS MoneyWatch’s requests for remark.
