Ben & Jerry’s Board Chair Rejects Unilever Pressure Ahead of Magnum Spinoff

Ben & Jerry’s independent board chair Anuradha Mittal says she will not resign despite increasing pressure from Unilever just days before Magnum’s public spinoff. The new standalone company, which will include the Vermont-based Ben & Jerry’s brand, is set to list on Euronext on Monday and will inherit an ongoing feud between Unilever and the ice cream maker’s socially progressive board.

Magnum stated last month that Mittal “no longer meets the criteria” to serve following internal investigations but did not reveal details. The tension escalates as Ben & Jerry’s continues to take outspoken positions on political issues, particularly regarding the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories—views Unilever argues have created reputational and operational risks. Securities filings for Magnum warn that Ben & Jerry’s activism could lead to investor challenges, public backlash, or boycotts.

Mittal, who has chaired Ben & Jerry’s independent board since 2018 and also serves as a trustee of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, dismissed the audit of the U.S.-based nonprofit as a “manufactured inquiry” designed to discredit her and weaken the board’s authority. She emphasized that her role is defined in Ben & Jerry’s 2000 merger agreement with Unilever, which grants the board unique oversight over the brand’s social mission and product quality.

The foundation’s trustees said they were informed that Unilever and Magnum want Mittal removed as a trustee and alleged that both companies have withheld required funding despite the foundation’s cooperation with the audit. The board’s counsel criticized Unilever, suggesting either decades-long neglect or an ulterior motive behind the sudden scrutiny of governance practices that have been unchanged for over 20 years.

As Magnum prepares to command roughly 20% of the global ice cream market as a standalone entity, the corporate rift shows no signs of cooling, setting the stage for further conflict between the brand’s social mission and Unilever’s corporate strategy.