Ben & Jerry's Accuses Unilever of CEO Removal Over Social Mission Clash

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Ben & Jerry's has taken Unilever to court, claiming the parent company wrongfully pushed out CEO David Stever over his support for the ice cream maker's social activism.

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Court documents reveal Unilever told Ben & Jerry's on March 3 it was "removing and replacing" Stever without getting required approval from the independent board.

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The ice cream company alleges this move violates their 2000 merger agreement that was specifically designed to protect Ben & Jerry's social mission and independence.

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Stever, who started as a tour guide in 1988 before becoming CEO in 2023, was reportedly criticized in his performance review for allowing social advocacy posts.

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Tensions between the companies boiled over in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's stopped selling in Israeli-occupied territories, but Unilever later sold that business operation.

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The lawsuit claims Unilever blocked Ben & Jerry's from releasing statements on issues including Black History Month, Gaza, and criticism of President Trump.

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Unilever fired back that Ben & Jerry's activism has shifted toward "one-sided, highly controversial topics that put Unilever, B&J's, and their employees at risk."

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Corporate governance expert Doug Chia noted the dispute reflects growing corporate fears of the Trump administration's "crusade against all things DEI."

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Ben & Jerry's attorney Shahmeer Halepota slammed Unilever's "revisionism," stating the "true disappointment" was the attempt to remove Stever for upholding company values.

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The case unfolds as Unilever prepares to spin off its ice cream brands later this year while many companies retreat from social positions deemed too liberal.

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