Unilever’s Manvinder Singh Vindi Banga to step down by May

Manvinder Singh ‘Vindi’ Banga, president for the global foods, home & personal care divisions at Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever has decided to leave the company after having spent 33 years in various roles.

He will be working with Unilever till May 2010, post which he will seek other industry opportunities.

Unilever on Thursday announced Banga will be replaced by Michael B Polk, currently the president for Unilever Americas, handling the company’s $18 billion business in North America and Latin America.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my time at Unilever,
especially the last few years during which we have transformed the company,” Banga said.

Banga joined Unilever in India. In 2000, he was appointed chairman and managing director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), Unilever’s operating company in India.

In 2004, he was appointed president, home and personal care, Asia, based in Singapore. A year later, he joined the Unilever Executive Board as president of foods.

In 2008, he went on to handle additional responsibility for the home and personal care categories and led the creation of a One Unilever Global Foods, Home and Personal Care Global Category Organisation, which is now responsible for innovation and marketing mix development for all brands.

He received the Padma Bhushan award this year.