Unilever's Chief Growth and Marketing Officer Esi Eggleston Bracey to Depart Amid Strategic Overhaul

Unilever's Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, Esi Eggleston Bracey, is set to leave the consumer goods giant at the end of January. Her departure coincides with a significant structural reorganization that will see Leandro Barreto, currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Unilever's Beauty & Wellbeing division, expand his remit to an enterprise-wide role beginning in the new year. This leadership transition underscores Unilever's intensified focus on integrating its marketing and business groups to drive greater impact in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Barreto, a Unilever veteran with over two decades of experience, will be tasked with accelerating efforts to create "desire at scale" for the company's extensive portfolio of brands, which includes household names like Dove and Hellmann's. The move aims to streamline marketing operations and foster a more cohesive approach across the organization.

Bracey's Tenure Marked by Disruption and Transformation

Bracey spent two years in the Chief Growth and Marketing Officer position and a total of eight years at Unilever. Her tenure was characterized by a period of profound internal and external changes for the storied CPG marketer. She navigated the rise of generative artificial intelligence, a technology Unilever is increasingly integrating into its strategic framework, alongside a volatile global economic climate marked by inflation, geopolitical tensions, and an uncertain consumer outlook. During her time, Unilever also underwent a significant restructuring, appointed Fernando Fernandez as CEO in March (succeeding Hein Schumacher), and initiated the spin-off of its ice cream business. These shifts reflect the company's proactive efforts to adapt to "remarkable industry change" and an "era of digital revolution" that has fundamentally altered consumer engagement.

Unilever's Evolving Marketing Strategy Under New Leadership

Under CEO Fernando Fernandez, Unilever has swiftly evolved its approach to marketing and media. Earlier this year, Fernandez announced plans to shift half of the company's total advertising spend to social media and increase its work with influencers 20-fold. These tactical adjustments are already evident in campaigns from brands like Dove, which has embraced creator-led initiatives. Unilever's push for viral, social-first marketing appealing to younger consumers also underpinned its recent $1.5 billion acquisition of the men's grooming brand Dr. Squatch.
"I would like to thank Esi for her significant contribution to Unilever and wish her every success in the next chapter of her career," stated Fernandez in a press release. "With strong groundwork now in place, I know Leandro will make a big impact in his expanded role as we accelerate desire at scale and turn Unilever into a true marketing and sales machine."

A Legacy of Purpose-Led Marketing and Industry Recognition

Before joining Unilever in 2018 to lead its North American beauty and personal care division, Bracey spent over two decades at Procter & Gamble, a key rival, and had a stint at Coty. She was promoted to Chief Growth and Marketing Officer in 2024, a role designed to balance traditional brand-building with performance marketing duties. Bracey has been a vocal champion of purpose-led marketing initiatives, notably Dove's support for the CROWN Act, U.S. legislation prohibiting discrimination based on natural hair. Her contributions to the industry were recently recognized with her induction into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Fame Class for 2026. Reflecting on her tenure, Bracey shared in a LinkedIn post about her departure: "Having the privilege of leading Unilever into its next chapter of growth and marketing has been extraordinary. Globally, we modernized Unilever’s marketing model and are restoring our edge as a brand and performance-driven marketer. None of it was marketing for marketing’s sake. It was about connecting creativity to performance, and brands to culture." Bracey will remain with Unilever through the end of January to facilitate Barreto's transition. Barreto is credited by Unilever with an aptitude for "disruptive creativity" and a proven track record in building culturally relevant brands.