Unilever has announced the departure of Conny Braams, its chief digital and commercial officer (CDCO), from the company.
Braams became the personal care product company’s chief digital and marketing officer at the beginning of 2020 and transitioned to the position of chief digital and commercial officer in 2022.
Her focus during this time was primarily on digital transformation, sales, and marketing.
Braams joined the company in 1990 and served in a variety of roles at Unilever, including management positions across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
“As CDCO she has helped to transform our company into a future-fit, fully digitized organization,” said Unilever CEO, Alan Jope, in a statement about Braams’ departure.
Braams’ successful initiatives at Unilever include the promotion of purpose-driven marketing efforts, which have become a recognizable thrust for the company. By focusing on diversity and sustainability at Unilever, Braams has pushed the company's marketing efforts worldwide.
One such initiative is the Dove Self-Esteem project, which made Dove the first global toiletry brand to push for legislative action surrounding the negative effect of social media.
Similarly, Unilever has been pushing for sustainability through its icecream brand, Magnum. Debuting at Paris Fashion Week in 2022, Magnum collaborated with fashion designer Iris van Herpen to create a dress out of vegan cocoa beans. The partnership aimed to raise awareness ofMagnum’s work surrounding sustainability, as well as its vegan icecream range.
Braams was the first person to take on the role of chief digital and marketing officer after the position was created in 2019, symbolizing Unilever’s shift toward digital transformation in the marketing sector.
The introduction of this position also followed Keith Weed’s departure after a decade-long run as the company's chief marketing officer.
Conny Braams will leave Unilever in August this year. Meanwhile, news of her replacement has yet to be confirmed.
