Ben & Jerry’s has removed three members from its independent board, as part of new governance practices introduced by the iconic ice cream company. Magnum Ice Cream Company (NYSE:MICC) , which houses brands like Ben & jerry’s and Cornetto, will be enforcing a new policy that restricts the tenure of board members to nine years. As a result, Chair Anuradha Mittal, two other long-time directors, Daryn Dodson and Jennifer Henderson, will not qualify for re-election in 2026. Mittal had told Reuters earlier this ...

Core Viewpoint - The founders of Ben & Jerry's are urging Unilever to allow the ice cream brand to operate independently, expressing concerns over Unilever's failure to honor commitments made during the 2000 acquisition [1][3][7] Company Operations - Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream operations, creating a new entity called The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC), which will include Ben & Jerry's and other brands like Solero, Cornetto, Twister, and Carte D'Or, and will be listed on exchanges in London, Amsterdam, and New York [2] Founders' Concerns - Cohen and Greenfield assert that Unilever has not respected the autonomy promised in the 2000 takeover agreement, which allowed Ben & Jerry's to pursue its social mission [3][4] - The founders claim that their brand's voice has been suppressed by Unilever, particularly regarding social justice issues, which contradicts the original vision they had for the company [4] Legal Actions - Ben & Jerry's has taken legal action against Unilever, alleging that the company attempted to silence its social mission by ousting its CEO and restricting public criticism of political figures and issues [5] - The ice cream brand previously halted sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, leading to Unilever's sale of its operations in the region to mitigate diplomatic tensions [6] Future Outlook - The founders believe that Ben & Jerry's should not be part of a corporate entity that does not support its founding mission, indicating a desire for the brand to operate independently from Unilever's influence [7]