Gojek CMO Ainul Yaqin returns to Unilever

Ainul Yaqin has taken on the role of vice president marketing, beauty and personal care at Unilever Indonesia. His return to Unilever comes as the previous beauty and personal care director, Tran Tue Tri exits the firm.

Yaqin was previously CMO of Gojek for two years. Before that he was with Unilever Singapore where he spent two years as vice president, strategic transformation, Southeast Asia and Australia. With experience around the region, he has also spent time in Unilever KL. Yaqin previously handled Unilever home care and foods category.

At the recent ninth annual Mob-Ex Awards, the region’s premier programme for mobile marketing excellence, Unilever took home the Best in Show award, beating out some impressive competition. Unilever claimed its spot by impressing the jury and taking home four gold, one silver and four bronze trophies.

Recently, it also sold its tea business, ekaterra, to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for about US$5.1 billion on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Unilever will retain its tea business in Indonesia, India, and Nepal, as well as its interests the Pepsi Lipton ready-to-drink tea joint ventures and associated distribution businesses. With a portfolio of 34 brands including Lipton, PG tips, Pukka, T2 and TAZO, ekaterra generated revenues of US$2.2 billion in 2020. The sale is expected to the complete in the second half of 2022. 

Unilever began a strategic review of its global tea business last year amidst subdued consumer demand for black tea in developed markets. The company said previously that its global tea business saw price-led growth. However volumes have been in decline in developed markets for several years due to changing consumer preferences.