Paul Polman

Paul Polman is a globally recognized business leader, philanthropist, and investor, focused on accelerating business action to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel, Polman was one of the 27 members tasked with shaping the SDGs and played a critical role in advocating for the role of the private sector in achieving them.

As CEO of Unilever (2008-2019), Polman set a new benchmark for purpose-driven leadership, proving that sustainable business is good business. During his tenure, Unilever’s shareholder returns increased by 290%, while the company was consistently rated as the world’s most sustainable business and celebrated as one of the world’s best places to work.

Polman continues to shape global business agendas through the development of cross-sector alliances and engagement with leading companies to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation across key value chains including food systems, transport, and finance.

He advises and serves on the boards of several leading companies and holds honorary roles with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), The B Team, and the UN Global Compact. Polman also advises the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the European Climate Foundation, and co-chairs the Planetary Guardians. He provides strategic counsel to global institutions, including as an advisor to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Until June 2024, Paul served as Vice Chair of the UN Global Compact alongside Secretary-General António Guterres, who appointed Paul an SDG Ambassador Emeritus.

Polman is at the forefront of sustainable finance, working with several major impact funds that collectively steward billions of dollars in assets to advance the SDGs through high-impact sustainable investments. He serves on the Global Advisory Council for the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund, Temasek.

Polman is committed to fostering the next generation of responsible leaders. He served as Chair of the Oxford Saïd Business School from 2019 to 2025. As Co-Founder and Chair Emeritus of IMAGINE, and through advisory boards with INSEAD, IESE, and One Young World, he mentors emerging leaders dedicated to sustainability and inclusion.

As a strong advocate for inclusion, disability rights, and human dignity, Polman chairs The Valuable 500 and founded the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust which empowers visually impaired children in Africa. He advances global health and resilience initiatives through his role on the board of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Polman is co-author of the bestselling book “Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take” which was recognized by the Financial Times as one of the top business books of the year. Thinkers50 named Polman and his co-author Andrew Winston first in its 2025 Ranking, recognizing their lasting influence on business and management.

For his contributions to business and sustainability, Polman has received numerous honors, including being named an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, awarded France’s Légion d’honneur, Singapore’s Public Service Star, and the Oslo Business for Peace Award. He has also received over 15 honorary degrees.