Hein Schumacher
Hein Schumacher | |
|---|---|
Schumacher in 2024 | |
| Born | 1 July 1971 (age 54) Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Title | CEO, Unilever |
| Term | July 2023 – February 2025 |
Hein Schumacher (born 1 July 1971) is a Dutch businessman, and was the CEO of Unilever from 1 July 2023 to 1 March 2025.[1][2]
Early life
Schumacher was born on 1 July 1971 in Breda, Netherlands, and was raised in Rucphen.[3][4] He studied political science and international relations at the University of Amsterdam, and later business administration at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.[3][4]
Career
Schumacher began his career at Unilever.[2]
He was previously the CEO of the Dutch dairy co-operative FrieslandCampina from 2018 until 2023.[2][5][6]
Before that, he worked at Heinz and was based in China for four years and had a stint at Ahold.[5][7]
Schumacher has been a non-executive director of Unilever from October 2022 until his appointment as its CEO in July 2023.[2] In February 2025, the Unilever board ousted Schumacher in favour of former finance chief, Fernando Fernandez.[8]
In January 2026, Schumacher was appointed CEO of Barry Callebaut AG.[9]
Personal life
Schumacher is married with three children. He is an avid equestrian.[10]
References
- ^ "Unilever Board update".
- ^ a b c d Pratley, Nils (30 January 2023). "Unilever's new Dutch milkman needs to deliver quickly". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ a b Hein Schumacher (in German). Munzinger-Archiv. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b van den Broek, Wim (2 February 2023). "Roots van nieuwe Unilever-topman liggen in Rucphen; van krantenbezorger tot CEO" [Roots of new Unilever CEO are in Rucphen; from newspaper deliverer to CEO]. BN DeStem (in Dutch).
- ^ a b Gray, Alistair (30 January 2023). "Unilever appoints Dutch dairy co-operative head as chief executive". Financial Times. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Hein Schumacher to step down as CEO of FrieslandCampina". Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Rijlaarsdam, Barbara; Sondermeijer, Vincent (5 March 2021). "'Er zit altijd vet in een bedrijf, soms is een reset nodig'" [‘There is always fat in a company, sometimes a reset is necessary’]. NRC (in Dutch).
- ^ Kollewe, Julia (25 February 2025). "Unilever ousts CEO Hein Schumacher to speed turnaround". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Hein Schumacher appointed new CEO of Barry Callebaut". Company ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Gray, Alistair; Dunkley, Emma; Massoudi, Arash (1 February 2023). "Hein Schumacher: from Dove soap factory floor to Unilever chief". Financial Times.