Alan Jope is a British business leader, advisor and former Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, one of the world's largest consumer goods companies. During his tenure as CEO, Alan led a business operating in 190 countries and serving 2.5 billion people every day, overseeing major strategic initiatives including the acceleration of Unilever's Prestige and Functional Nutrition portfolios, the launch of its Climate Transition Action Plan and the unification of the company's legal structure under a single parent organisation. Today, Alan is a sought-after speaker whose expertise in leadership, sustainability, innovation and global business transformation inspires audiences worldwide.
After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Business and Harvard Business School's General Management Program, Alan joined Unilever as a graduate marketing trainee. Over the following years, he held a variety of sales, marketing and leadership positions across multiple continents, gaining first-hand experience of diverse markets, cultures and business environments. His career took him to roles throughout the UK, United States, Thailand, China, Russia, Africa and the Middle East, where he developed a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and global business strategy. He later became President of Beauty and Personal Care, Unilever's largest division, before leading operations across China and North Asia, where he helped significantly accelerate growth. His success in senior leadership positions culminated in his appointment as CEO of Unilever, succeeding Paul Polman, where he oversaw major strategic initiatives, strengthened the company's sustainability agenda and guided the business through significant global challenges.
Following his executive career, Alan has continued to shape global business and social impact through a range of influential appointments. He serves as a Non-Executive Director of Accenture, Board Chair of The Leverhulme Trust, Board Member of The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Commissioner of the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking and a member of the Singapore Economic Development Board Advisory Council. He is also Chair of UNICEF's Generation Unlimited, Vice Co-Chair of the Consumer Goods Forum and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
As a motivational speaker, Alan combines strategic expertise with engaging personal stories from a career spent operating at the highest levels of global business. He speaks with authority on leadership, innovation, sustainability, culture, consumer trends and organisational transformation. Audiences value his honest reflections on managing complexity, leading through uncertainty and creating meaningful impact at scale. His ability to translate decades of executive experience into actionable lessons makes him an inspiring and highly relevant speaker for organisations seeking to develop stronger leaders, embrace change and achieve sustainable success.
