Unilever has announced that Vindi Banga, currently president, Global Foods, Home and Personal Care and member of the Unilever executive team has decided to leave Unilever at the end of May after a distinguished career of 33 years. He will be replaced in his current role by Michael B. Polk who is currently president, Americas. Polk will be succeeded by Dave Lewis, currently executive vice president of Unilever, UK & Ireland, who will join the Unilever Executive leadership team.

Banga led the creation of a One Unilever Global Foods, Home and Personal Care Global Category organization which is now responsible for innovation and marketing mix development for all Unilever brands. He was a member of the Unilever Executive leadership team which transformed the company’s performance.

Banga said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my time at Unilever especially the last few years during which we have transformed the company. Our global category organization is a real powerhouse that combines global brand and technology scale with local knowledge and execution.”

Banga joined Unilever in India and has since worked in a number of roles around the world. In 2000 he was appointed chairman and managing director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) which is Unilever’s operating company in India. HUL is India’s largest consumer products company; one of the country’s most respected companies and one of the most valuable companies on the Indian stock exchange.

In 2004 he was appointed president, Home and Personal Care Asia based in Singapore. In this role he was responsible for a €7bn business across North East Asia, China, South East Asia, Australasia and South Asia including India.

In 2005 he joined the Unilever Executive Board as president, Foods and created the Foods Category Organization. In 2008 he was given additional responsibility for the Home & Personal Care categories. He led the creation of a One Unilever Global Foods, Home & Personal Care Global Category Organization, which is now responsible for innovation and marketing mix development for all brands.

In 2004 he was appointed to serve on the Prime Minister of India’s Council of Trade & Industry.

In December 2009, Vindi was named India’s Global Achiever at a CNBC-sponsored awards ceremony in New Delhi.

In 2010 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards.