Unilever Names Lovell Chief Legal Officer

Unilever has appointed Tonia Lovell as its next chief legal officer and group secretary.

Lovell, 41, will replace Steve Williams when he retires, later this year, after 24 years service in that role. To ensure a smooth transition, Lovell will work with Williams for a handover before formally taking over later in the year.

Tonia Lovell, who since 2003 has been general counsel to the Unilever UK/Ireland business, will report directly to Chief Executive Paul Polman, and will join the Unilever executive board. In addition to providing counsel to the Unilever boards and the Unilever CEO, Lovell will head up the 175-strong legal network across the Unilever business.

“Steve Williams has played a major role at Unilever throughout a long and distinguished career,” said Polman. “His incisive wisdom and his sense of humour have won him many friends and admirers. He will be greatly missed.

“At the same time I would like to welcome Tonia as she takes on this very important role.”