Unilever has announced the merger of its corporate affairs, external communications, and sustainability departments under Rebecca Marmot, the company’s chief sustainability officer.
The reorganisation, revealed in early 2025, comes as businesses face increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible progress on sustainability commitments while maintaining strong financial performance.
According to an internal communication from CEO Hein Schumacher, the decision reflects “the increasing extent to which the external policy environment impacts our commercial and sustainability ambitions.”
The strategic realignment follows the departure of Paul Matthews, who served as global head of communications and corporate affairs for six years.
Consolidating these functions under Marmot’s leadership suggests a more integrated approach to corporate sustainability leadership, potentially setting a new precedent for how multinational corporations structure their sustainability and communications operations.
Marmot’s experience positions her well for this expanded role. She joined Unilever in 2007 and has led the company’s merged sustainability, advocacy, and policy team as global vice president, becoming chief sustainability officer in 2019.
Her prior experience at L’Oréal in external affairs adds another layer of expertise to her capabilities.
The timing of this reorganisation is particularly noteworthy, coming after Unilever’s recent recalibration of its sustainability strategy. In April 2024, the company adjusted its ESG targets, with Schumacher emphasising a more focused approach to areas that “materially impact the business.”
At the time, the move sparked discussion among environmental activists and industry observers about the balance between corporate sustainability commitments and business performance. The recent merger of the three departments reflects a broader industry trend toward integrating sustainability more deeply into corporate communications and strategy.
It acknowledges that sustainability initiatives can no longer exist in isolation from other business functions, mainly as stakeholders demand greater transparency and accountability in environmental and social governance.
The development also follows Unilever’s acknowledgement of past mistakes in its brand purpose and sustainability approach. At PRWeek’s Corporate and Public Affairs Summit in 2023, former communications chief Matthews noted that the company had initially “mis-stepped” in its stance on brand purpose, stating the company’s the need to demonstrate clear business cases for sustainability initiatives rather than treating them solely as social responsibility measures.
The recent restructuring could signal a more pragmatic approach to corporate sustainability leadership. In October 2024, Schumacher detailed plans to stop “force-fitting” brand purpose across Unilever’s entire portfolio, suggesting that sustainability efforts had been “spread too thinly.”
The organisational change affects the communications strategy for Unilever’s portfolio of 400 consumer brands, including household names like Ben & Jerry’s, Dove, and Hellmann’s. Unilever’s approach to integrating corporate sustainability leadership could serve as a blueprint for organisations seeking to strengthen their ESG commitments.
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