Global Chief Information Officer
Unilever

Willem Eelman is Global Chief Information Officer at Unilever.  Willem joined Unilever in 1989 as a trainee.  After five years in his native Netherlands, having acquired an advanced degree as a Chartered Controller, he moved to Prague to help establish Unilever’s new business in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Willem then moved on to the corporate Mergers & Acquisitions department of Unilever in London.  Here, he was involved in many buy-and-sell transactions, culminating in the acquisition of Bestfoods in 2000.

After a short period as a member of the Bestfoods integration team, Willem was promoted to Finance Director of the frozen food and ice cream business in Germany (Langnese Iglo) in 2001.

He returned briefly to the Netherlands before moving back to London to become Senior Vice President Finance for the newly formed global brand development organization for Foods.  His appointment as Global Chief Information Officer followed in May 2010. 

Willem has a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Wagenening University and has completed the Harvard Advanced Management programme.

Willem joins the LEF Advisory Board with effect from May 2011.