Unilever veteran Rahul Welde exits company after 31 years

Rahul Welde, EVP digital transformation and digital business at Unilever is leaving the company after 31 years.

Welde has been based in the UK for over six years, first moving in 2016 in the role of global VP digital transformation. He also held roles such as EVP digital transformation and EVP digital business consecutively.

Prior to his move to the UK, Welde was based out of Singapore, holding the role of VP of media at Unilever in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Turkey and Russia. Welde, a well-known name in the media industry in Singapore, joined the consumer products giant in 1991, working across a variety of roles such as business manager - popular foods, regional commercial manager, sales and operations manager, media director - Unilever South Asia, general manager - Media Services HUL, and many others.

In a statement on LinkedIn, Welde said he is “embarking on a new chapter – building a portfolio career, charting new waters and fostering the spirit of reinvention”.

“I hope to have fun on the roller-coaster that the new ride will be, and am sure will meet many old and new friends along the way,” he shared. He added, “I have been grateful for the privileges, learnings, and relationships for all these years. Many of these I will nurture in the future too. I am and will always be thankful to everyone involved in shaping who I am.”

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Unilever and Welde for a statement.

Most recently, Unilever also saw the departure of David Porter who spent more than 30 years in the media industry. He was with Unilever for over a decade and during that time he has held several senior roles, including media director in North Asia. He has since taken up an advisor role with global attention measurement platform Amplified Intelligence.

Meanwhile, Unilever also saw the departure of Paul Anthony Katimbang, global brand director, Closeup. Katimbang’s job scope include overseeing global strategic brand agenda, delivering brand purpose, assuring world-class innovation, and creating compelling digital and mobile-first communications used in 60 countries, his LinkedIn said.  Before that, he was the global brand director for Clear. Before taking on global roles, Katimbang worked for Unilever in the Philippines, managing Dove, Vaseline, Ponds, Closeup, and Clear.

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