UNILEVER REORGANIZES
By Adnews Staff
The Anglo-Dutch Unilever corporation is restructuring so that it can take better advantage of emerging markets and gain a sharper individual focus on differrent regions in its farflung global business empire. Under the new structure, strategic planning will be done by a seven-person executive committee that will replace the current three-member special committee in September this year. The company will be separated into 14 regional and category business groups next January, each headed by its own president. The presidents will be named at a later date. The executive committee will be responsible for developing the company's strategy. It will consist of two chairmen, a financial director, personnel director and three category directors responsible for foods, home and personal care products, and industrial businesses. Category directors will oversee international brand development and direct research and development programs. The two men who will chair the new executive committee are current Unilever PLC chairman Niall Fitzgerald and Unilever N.V. chairman Morris Tabaksblat. Robert Phillips will chair the North America committee and become president of the North American home and personal care business group. He is currently worldwide personal products coordinator. The re-structuring will not affect ad agency assignments, U.S.-based spokesperson John Gould told Adnews Friday. In Canada advertising is done by J. Walter Thompson, MacLaren McCann, Ammirati & Puris/Lintas and Ogilvy & Mather, all based in Toronto.