Unilever has appointed Cameron Heath as its new managing director for New Zealand, with his predecessor Nick Bangs moving to Sydney to take on the role of general manager for home, beauty and personal care for the ANZ region at the company.
Heath joins the NZ team after seven years based in Latvia as general manager with the Baltics arm of Unilever. Prior to this, he spent four years as Unilever’s marketing director for food and beverages in Prague.
Before joining Unilever, Heath was with Procter and Gamble for seven years, spanning a number of customer development and category strategy roles, including time working in the NZ market.
Unlidever says with 15 years in FMCG, Heath brings "extensive marketing and category management experience" to the role, as well as "a passion for delivering superior product experiences that generate value" for people, business and the planet.
“I’m thrilled to take the reins of the NZ business, which has consistently delivered strong results under the leadership of Nick Bangs,” Heath said.
“Last year marked eight years of consecutive of growth in the NZ market, illustrating the strong position that Unilever holds in the market, and its continued ability to delight Kiwis across the home.”
According to Heath, Unilever’s commitment to improving the health of the planet, and creating a fairer, more diverse and equitable world aligns with his own personal values.
“As one of the world’s largest producers of consumer goods, we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to do more good for our planet, not just less harm,” he added.
“From climate action and sustainable sourcing, through to reducing our packaging and food waste, we’re committed to taking tangible actions that chart the course for a more sustainable future.
“Beyond our environmental footprint, I am also deeply passionate about the role businesses can play in creating a fair, diverse and equitable world – I’m looking forward to better understanding the melting pot of cultures, which makes up NZ, and finding opportunities for us to scale change.”
Unilever is planning to remove plastic scoops from all its Surf laundry powder products in NZ, which it said could reduce the amount of plastic in circulation by 14.9 million tonnes every year.
Heath said he is acutely aware of the challenges that lie ahead for the consumer goods sector, and understands first-hand the pressure retailers and consumers are facing, as the industry deals with supply chain disruption and increased cost of production.
“I am committed to building constructive relationships with our retail partners and consumers to ensure the grocery sector is fair for all,” he concluded.
Heath took up his role on the ground in New Zealand in Monday.
