What Next as Unilever's Sustainability Chief Steps Down?

Unilever is set for a major shift in its sustainability leadership, a transition that could signal a new phase in Unilever's approach to environmental and social governance.

After a long tenure shaping strategy and advocacy, Rebecca Marmot, Unilever’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, is moving on from the consumer goods business.

Marmot’s departure marks the end of a notable chapter for Unilever. She held the position of Chief Sustainability Officer from 2019 to 2025 before being promoted to Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer in January 2025. In a post on LinkedIn, she announced her next steps.

“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 explains.

“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 on board 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.”

Rebecca Marmot’s sustainability milestones

During her time at Unilever, Rebecca was instrumental in guiding Unilever toward several key sustainability goals. She played a part in shaping the UN Sustainable Development Goals and contributed to the momentum around the 2015 Paris Accord.

Her work on sustainability reporting has also been notable, pushing for a strong EU framework in this area.

Rebecca has been a prominent advocate for a robust Global Plastics Treaty in recent years, which is a critical issue for the food and drink industry.

Beyond climate and plastics, she has championed water access, presenting the business case for joint funding at the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Her career before Unilever included roles in PR consultancy and the UK government, followed by a period leading external affairs at L’Oréal.

She believes firmly in a collaborative approach to tackling these global issues. "We cannot do this alone," she says.

Michael Stewart and the future of Unilever’s strategy

Rebecca’s successor, Michael Stewart, joined Unilever on 1 October as the firm's new Chief Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer.

He will continue in this capacity while taking on all of Rebecca's previous responsibilities too, covering the development of Unilever’s sustainability strategy and leadership of its global sustainability team alongside broader corporate affairs and communications duties.

This integrated role could suggest a deeper embedding of sustainability within Unilever's core corporate functions.

Michael arrives from the professional services firm PwC, where he was responsible for all aspects of external and internal communications, public policy, sustainability and reputation management.

At PwC, he was a member of several leadership bodies, including the Global Markets Leadership Team and AI Leadership Team, giving him a broad perspective on global business challenges and opportunities.

A new era of corporate affairs

Michael’s background includes six years on the global executive committee at the public relations and public affairs firm Edelman. During his tenure, he served as President and CEO for Europe and CIS and later as Global Vice Chairman.

Before that, he was with McKinsey for 12 years, becoming a Partner and Global Director of Communications and Marketing.

This extensive experience in communications advisory and corporate strategy at the highest levels will inform his leadership at Unilever.

His earlier career also involved work with several social sector and UN-affiliated organisations focused on sustainability and public-private partnerships, including the UN Global Compact and the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum.

This combination of corporate and third-sector experience will be applied as he takes the reins of Unilever’s sustainability and corporate affairs agenda.