Ben & Jerry's alleged in a federal court filing on March 19, 2025, that Unilever removed its CEO, David Stever, without the required approval from its independent board. The ice cream maker claims this action, which occurred on March 3, violated their merger agreement.
The lawsuit states that Unilever's decision to remove Stever was in retaliation for Ben & Jerry's social and political activism. Ben & Jerry's further alleged that Unilever had repeatedly threatened personnel if they failed to comply with efforts to "silence the social mission."
This development marks a significant escalation in the long-running dispute between Ben & Jerry's and its parent company. The allegations raise serious questions about governance, brand independence, and Unilever's commitment to the terms of its acquisition agreement.
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