Appointed 1 February 2026
Stefan Cloete is the General Manager of Unilever Southern Africa, leading the company’s growth, people agenda, and purpose commitments across the region. With a career spanning more than 15 years across diverse global markets, Stefan is passionate about unlocking human potential and driving businesses that do good while doing well.
Guided by his personal purpose, “Inspire and Nurture Growth”, Stefan believes deeply in the power of people and the impact of accountability. He draws inspiration from the stories of others and his own journey, championing the idea that each of us has the ability to shape our destiny, uplift teams, strengthen organisations, and positively influence the communities where we live and operate.
Prior to his current role, Stefan served as the General Manager of Unilever Beauty & Wellbeing in Southeast Asia, leading a dynamic team that delivers purposeful and science‑led beauty to nearly 400 million people across eight markets. Before that, he was Managing Director of Unilever East Africa and General Manager of Unilever Ethiopia, overseeing operations that served more than 250 million consumers in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.