Jochanan Senf was named the new global CEO for Ben & Jerry’s.Andrew Kelly/Reuters
The Magnum Ice Cream Company said on Thursday it has appointed Jochanan Senf as the global chief executive officer of Ben & Jerry’s, effective mid-July.
The leadership change comes as Ben & Jerry’s is locked in a legal fight with parent Unilever UL-N over the removal of its former CEO Dave Stever, who had been with the ice-cream maker since 1988 and was appointed to the top role in May 2023.
In court filings, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever removed Stever without board approval, violating an agreement meant to protect the ice cream brand’s independence and social activism.
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Ben & Jerry’s was founded by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in a renovated gas station in 1978, and kept its socially conscious mission after Unilever bought it in 2000.
Senf previously worked as the managing director of Ben & Jerry’s Europe and held senior roles in Unilever’s foods division.
Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream business, which includes Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum and Breyers, later this year.