Ben & Jerry’s has appointed three new members to its board in a bid to restructure its governing panel and boost its social mission. The new independent directors bring experience in environmental and social justice, civil rights, economic equity, and free speech.
The ice cream maker named Nora Benavidez, Michael McAfee, and Eva Schulte as independent directors, effective this month. They will draw on that experience to challenge and inspire the company as it works to balance product quality, financial growth, and social impact.
Ben & Jerry’s has a unique governance structure designed to protect its long-term social mission and ensure that mission remains a priority as the company evolves over time. The new directors will help the company achieve its three-part mission.
Founded in 1978 as a small ice cream scoop shop in Burlington, Vermont, the company operated as an independent enterprise until it was acquired by British consumer goods giant Unilever in 2000. Last year, Unilever spun out its ice cream business into a separate company called The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which now owns Ben & Jerry’s, Klondike, Talenti, and its namesake Magnum.
In recent years, Ben & Jerry’s has clashed with Unilever and Magnum over political censorship and publicly accused its parent companies of stifling its social activism. The ice cream brand previously said Unilever attempted to suppress its criticism of President Donald Trump and tried to block it from making public statements advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
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The companies also disagreed last year on whether Unilever fired Ben & Jerry’s CEO over his support for the brand’s social mission. Ben & Jerry’s said in an August 26 press release that its new board appointments will strengthen its governance model for the future and safeguard the social mission and integrity of the brand, while bringing expertise, outside perspective, constructive challenge, and connections to the movements and communities the company serves.
Benavidez is a civil and human rights attorney, litigator, and legal expert and currently serves as the senior counsel and director at Free Press, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic and social organization that advocates for fair and diverse media and technology policies in the United States. She has held the position since August 2021 and leads the organization’s democracy and tech initiatives.
McAfee is the chief executive officer of PolicyLink, a national research and action institute in the United States that advocates for economic and social equity. At PolicyLink, he has built on the institute’s work on corporate racial equity, including developing tools to help companies evaluate and advance equity across their supply chains.
Schulte, who rounds out the trio of new directors, is an environmental and economic expert who is currently the executive director at an organization.
Ben & Jerry’s continues to evolve. Its commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability will likely remain a key aspect of its brand identity. With the new board in place, the company may be able to more effectively manage the complexities of its governance structure and ensure that its social mission remains a top priority.
