The ousted chair of Ben & Jerry's has accused the company which owns the brand of threatening to launch a public smear campaign against her. Anuradha Mittal, who chaired Ben & Jerry's independent board for seven years, told the BBC that Magnum had threatened to publish defamatory statements about her if she did not step down from her role.
This relates to an increasingly bitter dispute between the Vermont-based activist ice cream maker and its owner over the independence of the board and its freedom to pursue its social missions. Magnum stated that Mittal no longer met the criteria to serve on the board, following an investigation it commissioned by external advisors.
In a statement on Monday, Magnum outlined changes to the way the board operates, including a nine-year limit for people serving on it. Alongside Mittal, two additional board members will also need to leave as a consequence.
An audit of the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, a charitable organization, reportedly identified serious deficiencies in financial controls and governance policies, including conflicts of interest.
Mittal described an escalation of tensions between the board of Ben & Jerry's and its owner regarding the brand's independence and commitment to social justice. For several years now, we have been resisting their overreach, including efforts to suppress our voice on human rights, and peace, she asserted.
Ben & Jerry's, known for its playful flavor names, was owned by Unilever until it spun off its ice cream unit, creating the Magnum Ice Cream Company earlier this month. The ice cream brand has had its independence challenged since its sale to Unilever in 2000, maintaining the right to shape its social mission.
This conflict of values intensified after Ben & Jerry's made the decision in 2021 to cease operations in the Israeli-occupied territories, leading Unilever to sell its Israeli operation. Mittal highlighted that this confrontation has now shifted to Magnum.
Mittal revealed, This October, Unilever-Magnum executives threatened me with defamatory statements in their forthcoming prospectus if I did not resign, adding that she declined a significant offer to join a multimillion-dollar, Unilever-funded nonprofit organization in exchange for stepping down. Mittal labeled the situation as a public smear campaign, condemning the allegations against her as baseless.
Magnum, now regarded as the world's largest ice cream producer, includes brands such as Cornetto and Wall's. One of the original Ben & Jerry's founders, Jerry Greenfield, expressed concerns regarding the brand's compromised social mission and integrity, leading him to resign in September. Magnum claims its adjustments aim to fortify the brand’s governance while preserving its social mission, a sentiment echoed by their spokesperson who affirmed the brand's dedication to social justice.
This relates to an increasingly bitter dispute between the Vermont-based activist ice cream maker and its owner over the independence of the board and its freedom to pursue its social missions. Magnum stated that Mittal no longer met the criteria to serve on the board, following an investigation it commissioned by external advisors.
In a statement on Monday, Magnum outlined changes to the way the board operates, including a nine-year limit for people serving on it. Alongside Mittal, two additional board members will also need to leave as a consequence.
An audit of the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, a charitable organization, reportedly identified serious deficiencies in financial controls and governance policies, including conflicts of interest.
Mittal described an escalation of tensions between the board of Ben & Jerry's and its owner regarding the brand's independence and commitment to social justice. For several years now, we have been resisting their overreach, including efforts to suppress our voice on human rights, and peace, she asserted.
Ben & Jerry's, known for its playful flavor names, was owned by Unilever until it spun off its ice cream unit, creating the Magnum Ice Cream Company earlier this month. The ice cream brand has had its independence challenged since its sale to Unilever in 2000, maintaining the right to shape its social mission.
This conflict of values intensified after Ben & Jerry's made the decision in 2021 to cease operations in the Israeli-occupied territories, leading Unilever to sell its Israeli operation. Mittal highlighted that this confrontation has now shifted to Magnum.
Mittal revealed, This October, Unilever-Magnum executives threatened me with defamatory statements in their forthcoming prospectus if I did not resign, adding that she declined a significant offer to join a multimillion-dollar, Unilever-funded nonprofit organization in exchange for stepping down. Mittal labeled the situation as a public smear campaign, condemning the allegations against her as baseless.
Magnum, now regarded as the world's largest ice cream producer, includes brands such as Cornetto and Wall's. One of the original Ben & Jerry's founders, Jerry Greenfield, expressed concerns regarding the brand's compromised social mission and integrity, leading him to resign in September. Magnum claims its adjustments aim to fortify the brand’s governance while preserving its social mission, a sentiment echoed by their spokesperson who affirmed the brand's dedication to social justice.
