Ben & Jerry's directors removed in fresh twist to Magnum row

A co-founder of Ben & Jerry's has accused its owners of a caller effort to "silence" its societal ngo done the departures of 3 members of its autarkic board.

Ben Cohen spoke up aft it emerged that its seat Anuradha Mittal, who had antecedently resisted genitor institution unit to region her, had near Ben & Jerry's successful the aftermath of caller rules imposed by the US marque that included nine-year word limits for committee members.

It is understood that 2 different long-standing directors, Daryn Dodson and Jennifer Henderson, volition spot their presumption expire connected 31 December.

Ben & Jerry's has, since past week, been owned by The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC) which was created by a spin-off from the UK-based user goods steadfast Unilever.

Unilever bought Ben & Jerry's successful 2000 but the narration has been sour since, contempt the instauration of the autarkic committee astatine that clip which was aimed astatine protecting the brand's societal mission.

The astir high-profile spat came successful 2021 erstwhile Ben & Jerry's took the determination not to merchantability crystal pick successful Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories connected the grounds that income would beryllium "inconsistent" with its values.

Unilever responded by selling the business to its licensee successful Israel.

A bid of rows person followed akin to a tug of war, with Magnum refusing repeated demands by the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's to sell the marque back.

Magnum and Unilever reason its ngo has strayed beyond what was acceptable backmost successful 2000, with the marque evolving into one-sided advocacy connected polarising topics that hazard reputational and concern damage.

TMICC declared past period that Ms Mittal "no longer meets the criteria" to service aft interior investigations.

An audit of the abstracted Ben & Jerry's Foundation, wherever she is besides a trustee, recovered deficiencies successful fiscal controls and governance. Magnum said the charitable limb risked having backing removed unless the alleged problems were addressed.

Ms Mittal had accused Magnum of attempts to "discredit" her and undermine the authorization of the autarkic board.

Neither she, oregon the different 2 directors acceptable to permission the board, were yet to comment.

Mr Cohen said the 3 directors had served the institution with integrity and courage, calling their departure "another measurement successful Magnum's systematic effort to dismantle Ben & Jerry's from the wrong and soundlessness the precise societal ngo that gives the marque its value."

Magnum said it afloat supported the steps Ben & Jerry's was taking to heighten committee governance.