MBA Guest Speaker: Keith Weed, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Unilever
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Unilever, Keith Weed, delivered a guest lecture session for MBA and for BA Marketing Students at the Management School.
Keith gave an introduction to Unilever, its globally-recognised brands and its market before speaking about the company’s beginnings in Port Sunlight when Lord Lever, a social entrepreneur of his day, saw an opportunity to help thousands by launching Sunlight Soap and making ‘cleanliness commonplace’. Keith also spoke of Lord Lever as an innovative thinker and marketeer, explaining that by introducing the brand name Sunlight, Lever’s soap was the first product not to be named after its founder.
Unilever’s connection with the University of Liverpool dates back to 1907, and continues today with Unilever being an important partner in the Materials Innovation Factory, currently being developed on the University campus.
Keith then spoke about building and leading a social and sustainable business in a rapidly changing world, explaining that in order to be competitive, “Businesses have to get to the future first”.
Unilever’s vision is to grow its business while reducing its carbon footprint and increasing positive social impact, and Keith’s responsibilities include increasing sustainability, advancing digital marketing and technology, as well as the development of brands through Unilever’s crafting Brands for Life strategy.
Outside Unilever, Keith is a Fellow of the Marketing Society and a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.