Unilever's headhunt for new chairman

ANTONY Burgmans is about to take up the job of chairman at consumer giant Unilever with the board already looking for his successor.

Burgmans is due to be confirmed as sole chairman of the Anglo-Dutch giant, whose products range from washing powder to mayonnaise, at the annual meetings of the British and Dutch holding companies next week and is due to hold the position for 18 months.

But non-executives meet this week and are expected to choose a headhunter to start the search for a replacement.

Unilever has said Burgmans will stay until some time in 2007, but a boardroom source said: 'If we can shorten the timescale, we will do so.'

It is understood that Unilever's directors have a shortlist of two or three headhunters and will make their choice at a meeting ahead of the announcement of Unilever's first-quarter figures on Friday.

Some UK shareholders believe that Burgmans should go sooner rather than later, but the company denies that it has been subjected to any pressure.

Unilever wants Burgmans' replacement to be a heavyweight figure from outside the company.