Polk to Replace Rice at Americas Unilever Helm

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. -- John Rice, president of Americas Unilever and one of SN‘s Power 50 executives for 2006, has decided to retire from Unilever after 25 years of service. Rice, who will step down in March 2007, will be replaced by Michael Polk. Rice appointed Polk group vice president of Unilever United States in October 2005 from his earlier post as group vice president, Foods, U.S., as a way to solidify the structure of Unilever‘s U.S. division, Rice told SN this year. "I want to thank John [Rice] for his many contributions to Unilever over the course of his career with the company. Most recently this included his commitment to help build the new One Unilever organization as well as the successful leadership of the Americas region for the past two years,” said Patrick Cescau, group chief executive. “Mike [Polk] has played a key role in successfully integrating the U.S. business and sustaining our growth momentum in this important country." Over the past year, Unilever has successfully integrated its home and personal care and Foods companies in the U.S. under a single leadership team, Rice told SN. -- Wendy Toth