The FINANCIAL -- Unilever on February 8 announced that it had nominated Tonia Lovell as its next Chief Legal Officer and Group Secretary.

Chief Legal Officer and Group Secretary Lovell, 41, will replace Steve Williams when he retires, later this year, after 24 years service in that role. To ensure a smooth transition, Lovell will work with Williams for a handover before formally taking over later in the year.

Tonia Lovell, who since 2003 has been General Counsel to the Unilever UK/Ireland business, will report directly to Chief Executive, Paul Polman, and will join the Unilever Executive. In addition to providing counsel to the Unilever Boards and the Unilever Executive, Lovell will head up the 175-strong legal network across the Unilever business.

Paul Polman, Chief Executive of Unilever, said: “Steve Williams has played a major role at Unilever throughout a long and distinguished career. His incisive wisdom and his sense of humour have won him many friends and admirers. He will be greatly missed.

"At the same time I would like to welcome Tonia as she takes on this very important role."

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