Ice Cream GTM Dcomm & BU CIO – Americas

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company.​ A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories.​ Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.​

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is all about growth. Growing our business. Growing our customers’ businesses. Growing our people’s careers.​ Growth begins with empowerment. So we free our people to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs, driven and equipped to give our consumers more amazing products and unforgettable moments – and having fun doing it.​  

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry.  We have been taking pleasure seriously for more than 100 years, serving happiness with every lick or scoop of ice cream for generations.  

We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen before the end of 2025.  

We dream big but keep things simple to act fast.​ 

If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream, this is the place for you! 

JOB PURPOSE:

As part of our growth strategy, we are seeking an experienced and strategic Business Unit Chief Information Officer (BU CIO) to lead technology strategy and execution for our Americas region and our global Direct 2 Commsumer Products Lead. The BU CIO will serve as the primary technology leader for the business unit, ensuring that IT, D&A and digital capabilities enable and accelerate business unit and inhome channel outcomes. This individual will work closely with the business unit leadership team, the markets within the region and collaborate with global platform teams to deliver scalable, innovative, and fit-for-purpose technology solutions.

The newly created Ice Cream Technology function will drive the technology set-up, standalone design and implementation of all required technology capabilities to enable Unilever’s Ice Cream business to become a fully functioning standalone company, separate from Unilever.

The Americas BU CIO & Dcomm Product Lead role is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the overall technology and strategy for Ice Cream in Americas, and globally for direct-to-consumer solutions. The role will develop and execute the technology strategy for the business unit, aligning with the broader organizational vision, goals and overall IT Strategy.

The key purpose of the role is to lead the BU organisation through strategic and tactical technology activities and operate as the overarching leader that enables all product and platform teams to meet the regions needs. This role will partner closely with the Chief Technology & Information Officer (CTIO) and the rest of the Tech and D&A Ice Cream LT and work closely and collaborate with other business leaders, partners and UniOps to support the overall set up of a future-fit IT function for the standalone Ice Cream organisation.

The successful candidate will be one that has Significant IT expertise with a proven record of leading large-scale technology transformation and has a passion for building world class technology and a desire to make a meaningful impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Business Unit Chief Information Officer (BU CIO) is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring our overall technology capabilities deliver and support growth for the region. This role will report directly to the Ice Cream Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO). At a high level these are the areas of focus for the role covering a broad set of technology domains including (but not limited to):

Technology Strategy & Leadership:

• Develop and execute the technology strategy for the business unit, aligning with the broader organizational vision and goals.
• Act as a strategic partner to the business unit leadership team, driving innovation, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage through technology
• Stay ahead of emerging technologies, industry trends, and competitive advancements to shape a forward-looking technology roadmap

Collaboration with Global Platform Teams:

• Partner with global IT and platform teams to ensure the successful delivery of enterprise-wide systems and capabilities to the business unit
• Advocate for the business unit’s specific needs and priorities while balancing alignment with global technology standards
• Ensure seamless integration of global platforms with regional solutions, optimizing performance and user experience

Technology Delivery & Operations:

• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of technology solutions, from ideation to deployment, ensuring projects meet timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Ensure robust and secure IT operations for the business unit, addressing uptime, cybersecurity, and compliance requirements
• Continuously optimize technology operations to enhance cost efficiency, scalability, and performance

Stakeholder Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with business unit leaders, serving as a trusted advisor on all technology-related matters.
• Communicate complex technology concepts in clear, business-relevant terms to senior executives and stakeholders
• Collaborate with external partners, vendors, and consultants as needed to drive technology outcomes.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing business unit IT team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Build technology talent pipelines, ensuring the team is equipped with the skills and expertise to meet current and future demands.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

The preferred candidate would have 10+ years of of progressive experience in cybersecurity, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

Following key skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
• Proven experience as a senior IT leader, ideally in a matrixed organization or business unit CIO role within a larger enterprise.
• Demonstrated success in delivering technology and D&A strategies and solutions that drive business growth and efficiency.
• Strong understanding of enterprise platforms (e.g., ERP, CRM, eCommerce, Analytics, D2C) and their deployment in global organizations.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in balancing global technology standardization with regional business needs.
• Familiarity with agile delivery methods, digital transformation, and cloud technologies is a plus.
• Systemic and strategic thinking: Being able to consider longer term implications for the business, elevating the conversation to business, society, and ecosystems. A deep understanding of the business and levers to pull, engaging others to prioritise and pursue opportunities that deliver significant growth for Unilever Ice Cream and have a positive impact on the world.
• Owner’s mindset: Using financial acumen, data, and insights to inform their thinking that both makes the complex simple for others, creating a sense of urgency with a business edge and can show how those insights have created impact and delivered business value.
• Functional, Business and Commercial Acumen: Understanding of various business and functional models, industry dynamics, and market trends is crucial, combined with a deep understanding of how Unilever Ice Cream serves consumers and correlatedly creating an IT function poised to create a sustainable competitive and effective operation.
• Change Leadership and Communication prowess. Leading and landing transformative change, comfortable experimenting with innovative approaches, pushing themselves and others to achieve outstanding outcomes. Crafting communication narrative that is inspiring and compelling to drive change.
• Analytical and problem-solving Expertise: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing risks, issues and dependencies.

LEADERSHIP:

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.
• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
• CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
• BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

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Unilever is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

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