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Unilever CEO Earns 292 Times More Than His Average Employee

By Publications Checkout
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Unilever CEO Earns 292 Times More Than His Average Employee

Unilever CEO Paul Polman earns 292 times more than the average employee working at the consumer goods company, according to Het Financieele Dagblad.

After receiving a 39% pay rise last year, Polman's total salary reached €11.7 million in 2017.

The Financial Times reported that this was the highest amount paid to the chief executive since he assumed the role nine years ago, boosted in part by a stronger share price after rejecting a $143 billion takeover bid from US food giant Kraft Heinz.

But how does Polman's pay cheque compare with other Dutch business leaders?

Het Financieele Dagblad's data shows that the Unilever boss is followed closely by Heineken's Jean François van Boxmeer, who earns 277 times as much as his average employee, and Ahold Delhaize boss Dick Boer, who earns 182 times more than the average employee at the supermarket group.

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Company Growth

It's been a busy year for Unilever. After fending off Kraft Heinz, the consumer goods giant, which produces Dove soap and Magnum ice cream, went about making some deals of its own.

During the year, Unilever acquired a wide range of small businesses across its three divisions - beauty & personal care, home care, and foods & refreshment - including Carver Korea cosmetics, Tazo Tea, and Sir Kensington's condiments.

In perhaps its most significant move, however, Unilever announced earlier this month that it is scrapping its dual Anglo-Dutch structure, and moving to a single headquarters based in Rotterdam.

It said that the simplification of its head office structure will ‘provide greater flexibility for strategic portfolio change and help drive long-term performance’.

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According to the company's annual results, Unilever is anticipating revenue growth of 3-5% this year, as US tax cuts boost global economic expansion.

If the group continues this rate of growth, it could be good news for Polman and his bonus cheque.

© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.

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