Unilever\'s Marijn Dekkers to step down as chairman

Consumer goods giant Unilever on Wednesday named non-executive director Nils Andersen as its new chairman, replacing Marijn Dekkers who has decided to step down immediately.

Dekkers, chairman at the Dove soap and Knorr soup maker for more than three years, is standing down to focus on his responsibilities as founder and chairman of investment and advisory firm Novalis LifeSciences, the company said in a statement. He will remain on the board as non-executive director.

Andersen, who was appointed non-executive director of Unilever in 2015, is part of Unilever’s audit committee and is also chairman of Dutch paint company Akzo Nobel NV and privately held Danish retailer Salling Group A/S. He is also a non-executive director at BP.

Andersen intends to step down from his roles at BP Plc and Salling Group A/S in March 2020, before the Unilever annual general meeting, the company said on Wednesday.