Unilever’s long-serving sustainability leader, Rebecca Marmot, has stepped down after nearly twenty years with the consumer goods giant, marking a significant shift in the company’s approach to sustainability and corporate affairs.
Marmot, who joined Unilever in 2007 and served as Chief Sustainability Officer from 2019, before taking on the expanded role of Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer in January 2025, played a pivotal role in shaping Unilever’s global environmental strategy and advocacy agenda.
“In July, I announced that I would be stepping down as Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer at Unilever to embark on a new opportunity — and now that time has come,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post.
Her departure closes a transformative chapter in Unilever’s sustainability journey, during which the company deepened its alignment with international environmental goals and adapted to evolving global regulations.
Reflecting on her tenure, Marmot said: “Unilever is a fantastic company with incredible people — I’m proud to have been a part of it for so long. I feel hugely grateful and full of energy and optimism. Before leaving, I welcomed onboard and handed over the reins to the wonderful Michael Stewart. I’ll be cheering him and the amazing team on as I navigate my next adventure.”
During her time at Unilever, Marmot championed climate action, circular economy initiatives, and access to clean water. Her leadership helped advance Unilever’s commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals, advocacy for the Global Plastics Treaty, and engagement with frameworks such as the Paris Agreement. She also represented Unilever at the UN 2023 Water Conference, where she urged joint funding for water access and stewardship projects.
Before joining Unilever, Marmot held senior roles in the UK government, PR consultancy, and at L’Oréal, leading external affairs and stakeholder engagement.
Unilever has appointed Michael Stewart as its Chief Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer, effective 1 October 2025. He will oversee Unilever’s global sustainability strategy, along with its corporate affairs and communications functions.
Stewart brings over three decades of experience in communications, public policy, and sustainability. At PwC, he oversaw global external and internal communications, public policy, and reputation management, and was a member of several leadership teams including Global Markets, AI, and Marketing and Brand Council.
Prior to PwC, Stewart served on the executive committee at Edelman, where he led as President and CEO for Europe and CIS, and later as Global Vice Chairman overseeing industries, Edelman Advisory, and the Edelman Trust Barometer. He also spent 12 years at McKinsey & Company, culminating as Partner and Global Director of Communications and Marketing.
His earlier experience includes work with the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, the UN Global Compact, and the UN Earth Summit, underscoring a longstanding engagement with sustainability and global development issues.
