Transcript of the interview with Geneviève Berger

24 June 2008

Tim Johns

Today, Unilever announced that Professor Geneviève Berger, one of our non-executive directors, would be joining the organisation in a full-time capacity as an executive director, as our Chief R&D Officer, reporting to Patrick Cescau, and joining his executive team.

With me to talk about this development is both Geneviève and Vindi Banga. So, Geneviève, first question to you, really. You have an illustrious academic background. What made you decide to join Unilever?

Geneviève Berger

Well, first, Unilever is a really great company, and I will be as proud as everyone working for this company is. That's my first point. Also, Unilever is dealing with many fields of science. It's dealing with chemistry, it's dealing with physics, it's dealing with life science.

My background has been to deal with physics, medicine and human biology, so I'm really interested in this inter-disciplinary aspect of the company. Last but not least, Unilever is a company which delivers, and I have been in the field of clinics, and we have to deliver to the patients. Now it will be to deliver to the consumers. Delivering, at the end, is a great interest for me.

Tim Johns

Vindi, how important do you think this appointment is for Unilever? What signal does it give to both the inside world and the outside world?

Vindi Banga

Well, before I answer that, I'd like to add a word of very warm welcome to Geneviève. I am delighted that she is joining Unilever, and joining the UEx, and taking on this particular responsibility.

As you know, we're on a journey, and we're on a journey which we started three years ago after the Science and Technology Review to really up the contribution that science and technology can make to our innovation and to winning in the market. I think we've achieved some things in the past, but I think this gives us the opportunity to take that journey to the next stage, and truly raise the bar in terms of the role of science, our scientific capacity and capability, as well.

Tim Johns

Vindi, you've led a lot of the change in R&D so far. How does this appointment affect the new structure?

Vindi Banga

Well, as you know, we have established our global R&D resources now along the continuum of discover, define and deploy. What we're going to do is really use this to build the capacity of that full continuum. So with Geneviève, and her particular skills and background, I have no doubt that she would be able to raise the scientific bar, and really feed into the funnel and our capabilities on the discover side.

We will be able to pick up the ball effectively, and really take it through the design stages, and then deploy even more better innovation in the marketplace. So I think this will go a long way towards taking ourselves, as I mentioned a few moments ago, to the next stage.

Tim Johns

Geneviève, you've obviously been with the company now for 18 months or so in a part-time, non-executive capacity. How much more do you think you will you be able to offer in a full-time job? What was the missing link, as it were?

Geneviève Berger

The most important difference, with respect to my non-executive position, will be to be in the action. To act and to deliver, that's the most important difference for me.

Tim Johns

What particular parts of your background do you think have prepared you for this particular new role?

Geneviève Berger

Well, I have to say that two aspects of my background would prepare me. The first one is my personal scientific background, and the second one is my background in managing science. Let's detail some more concerning my personal scientific background. I will not compromise with excellence and quality. I think this experience will be very, very important for the company. Just excellence, quality.

In my personal background, it's also the fact that I have many patterns. I know what it is to develop a product, and having built some products which are commercially available, I think that's also a good experience to bring.

The second aspect is managing science. As you know, having been in charge of the CNRS, which is one of the world's largest Swiss organisations, with 26,000 employees, it's also an experience of managing science. Trying to find priorities for the future - I hope to bring this to the company, too.

Tim Johns

Vindi, in the work you've been doing, you must be able to have a good idea of where Unilever stands in terms of its commitment to science and R&D. How do we compare against our competitors?

Vindi Banga

Well, if you look, I think this takes us straight back to the Science and Technology Review. When we did that work, many people were involved in that. We did a lot of external benchmarking, internal study. Our conclusion was that we certainly did not lack for spend, or indeed quality of people and knowledge. We did believe that we could make a bigger impact with that knowledge in the marketplace.

Now we've had three years from there, and I think we've seen a steady uptake in the quantum and quality of innovation. I think this has contributed, in no small measure, to the overall change in the performance rhythm of the company. What's happened? Our products are better, our quality has improved. As I said, I'm really looking forward to seeing how we can not just get more from what we have, but get to a new level of scientific knowledge and capacity, leveraging the fantastic talent we have in Unilever, but also harnessing the talent from the rest of the world in open innovation. I'm sure that Geneviève would really be able to do that with us.

Tim Johns

Geneviève, how much exposure have you had to Unilever's science and R&D capability in your time as a non-executive director?

Geneviève Berger

Well, I had the chance to visit most of our research labs, and Vindi helped me a lot to get the knowledge of what was going on. I visited Trumbull, Port Sunlight, Vlaardingen, Colworth, Leeds, Bangalore. So quite a lot of locations. Of course, it was short visits, and I would not say today that I could go into the details of all the science going there. I had a feeling, a good sense, but I have to go into much more detail in order to be able to build the future in the way, Vindi, you have been describing, which is to leverage science and technology in the company.

Tim Johns

Geneviève, a final question for you. As a non-executive, you've been one of our diversity champions. Will you still be playing that role in your new capacity?

Geneviève Berger

Yes, and I would like to do it for the company, for myself and for everyone in the company. I have some experience of having been leading some actions concerning diversity in my previous jobs. It will not be completely new. It's just to be in the mind of everyone.

Tim Johns

Geneviève, thank you very much. Vindi, thank you very much. Thank you both for your time, and, Geneviève, welcome to Unilever.

Geneviève Berger

Thank you.

Vindi Banga

Thank you, Tim.