Former CEO of Unilever, Non-Executive Director at Accenture, Chair of the British Business Awards & Advisory Board Council Member of Imperial Business School

Alan Jope is one of Britain’s most accomplished business leaders, having led Unilever as Chief Executive Officer and overseen one of the world’s largest consumer goods businesses. During his leadership, he was responsible for an organisation operating in 190 countries and serving 2.5 billion people every day. Recognised for his commitment to sustainable growth and purpose-led leadership, Alan guided major initiatives including the launch of Unilever’s Climate Transition Action Plan, the acceleration of its Prestige and Functional Nutrition portfolios and the simplification of the company’s corporate structure. Today, he is a respected advisor, board member and keynote speaker.

Alan’s professional journey began with a BA (Hons) in Commerce from the University of Edinburgh, followed by Harvard Business School’s General Management Program. He joined Unilever as a graduate trainee and steadily advanced through a broad range of commercial and leadership positions. His international experience spans multiple continents, providing him with first-hand insight into global consumer behaviour, cultural diversity and organisational leadership. After holding senior regional positions across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, he became President of Beauty and Personal Care before ultimately being appointed CEO. Alongside his business commitments, Alan now serves on numerous influential boards and advisory councils.

His governance portfolio includes roles as Non-Executive Director of Accenture, Board Chair of The Leverhulme Trust, Board Member of The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and Commissioner of the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. He is also Chair of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, Vice Co-Chair of the Consumer Goods Forum, Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and a member of the Singapore Economic Development Board Advisory Council. In academia, he is a Visiting Professor at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School and contributes to thought leadership initiatives across business and society.

Drawing on decades of leadership at the highest level, Alan offers audiences a powerful blend of strategic insight and practical experience. He speaks on leadership, sustainability, innovation, transformation and global growth, helping organisations understand how to navigate complexity while maintaining purpose and performance. His ability to connect boardroom experience with real-world application makes him an engaging and highly impactful speaker.

Why Hire Alan Jope?

Alan Jope is hired for his ability to share lessons learned from leading a global organisation through transformation, disruption and growth. His presentations combine strategic thinking, international business expertise and practical leadership insights that audiences can apply immediately. Having worked across multiple cultures and markets, Alan brings a genuinely global perspective to topics including sustainability, consumer behaviour, organisational change and future leadership. Whether addressing senior executives or emerging leaders, he delivers thought-provoking content that encourages innovation, resilience and long-term success.