Unilever boss will retire in December following HQ move rejection

Unilever, the consumer goods giant, has revealed that Paul Polman, its chief executive, is to step down at the end of the year.

Polman has been the chief executive of Anglo-Dutch Unilever - which makes Marmite, Magnum and Dove - for over a decade.

The news follow on from Polman’s rejected plans to move the company’s headquarters to the Netherlands in October, where it could have been solely based.

However this was hugely criticised, as the transition could have made UK shareholders sell their shares in the process.

Polman will retire at the end of December, but Unilever has said he is staying with the company until summer 2019 to help with the “transition process”.

He is to be replaced by the firm’s beauty and personal care division leader, Alan Jope.