US-based ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s has sued its personal dad or mum agency Unilever over the firing of the previous’s CEO David Stever. Ben & Jerry’s claimed that Unilever violated its merger settlement with the ouster for the model’s political activism.
Unilever had purchased Ben & Jerry’s, based in 1978, in 2000.(Getty Pictures through AFP)
Stever, who had joined the corporate as a tour information in 1988, was fired after main the corporate for nearly two years.
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In a criticism filed on Tuesday in New York, Ben & Jerry’s said that the UK-based conglomerate, that owns manufacturers like Dove, needed to cease Stever from making political statements.
The Guardian reported Ben & Jerry’s Chairperson of the board Anuradha Mittal as saying, “Dave has courageously advanced the company’s social mission and values, has continued to drive innovation in its super premium product range, and has delivered strong financial results, far outpacing the rest of Unilever’s ice-cream business.”
The corporate claimed that as per the merger settlement between it and Unilever signed in 2000, Ben & Jerry’s pursuits are protected as Unilever shouldn’t be allowed to take away its CEO with out by board’s approval, which is what Unilever did.
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The lawsuit mentioned that Unilever’s motive for the elimination of Stever was resulting from his “commitment to Ben & Jerry’s Social Mission and Essential Brand Integrity … rather than any genuine concerns regarding his performance history”, in response to CNN.
In an announcement given to CNN, Unilever mentioned, “In line with the terms of the acquisition agreement, decisions on the appointment, compensation and removal of the Ben & Jerry’s CEO will be made by Unilever after good faith consultation and discussion with the B&J’s Independent Board… (W)e are disappointed that the confidentiality of an employee career conversation has been made public.”
The lawsuit is the newest growth in a long-drawn dispute between the dad or mum agency and its subsidiary. Ben & Jerry’s had accused final month that Unilever demanded it cease publicly criticising US President Donald Trump.
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In November, the ice cream maker launched legal action against Unilever and accused the company of trying to block it from making public statements supporting Palestinian refugees.
Ben & Jerry’s, which was based by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978, was purchased by the UK-based shopper items group in 2000.
As a part of the merger deal, an impartial board was set as much as defend the ice-cream model’s mission and robust stance on social points.