The independent board overseeing Ben & Jerry's social mission has been rocked by the departure of three directors, including its chair, in a fresh escalation of the long-running dispute with its corporate owners.
A Sudden Exit and Expiring Terms
Anuradha Mittal, the chair of Ben & Jerry's independent board, has left her role with immediate effect. This follows the introduction of new rules by the brand's ultimate owner, which include a nine-year term limit for board members.
It is understood that two other long-serving directors, Daryn Dodson and Jennifer Henderson, will see their terms conclude on 31 December 2025. The moves come just a week after Ben & Jerry's formally came under the ownership of The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC), a new entity spun off from the UK consumer goods giant Unilever.
Co-Founder Accuses Magnum of 'Silencing' Mission
Ben Cohen, who co-founded the iconic ice cream brand, has publicly condemned the changes. He stated that the departure of the three directors represents "another step in Magnum's systematic effort to dismantle Ben & Jerry's from the inside and silence the very social mission that gives the brand its value."
Cohen alleges this is a fresh attempt by the owners to curb the brand's activist stance. The relationship between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever has been strained since the £2000 acquisition, despite the creation of the independent board intended to protect its ethical commitments.
Roots of the Conflict and Governance Clash
The most prominent clash occurred in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's decided to halt sales in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, deeming it inconsistent with its values. Unilever later sold the Israeli business to a local licensee.
TMICC and Unilever have argued that the brand's mission has evolved into one-sided advocacy on polarising topics, risking reputational and commercial damage. They contend this goes beyond what was agreed upon in 2000.
Regarding Ms Mittal's departure, TMICC stated last month that she "no longer meets the criteria" to serve after internal investigations. An audit of the separate Ben & Jerry's Foundation, where she is also a trustee, reportedly found deficiencies in financial controls and governance.
Magnum warned the charitable arm could lose funding if the alleged issues were not addressed. Mittal had previously accused Magnum of trying to discredit her and undermine the board's authority.
In a brief statement, Magnum said it "fully supported the steps Ben & Jerry's was taking to enhance board governance." The departing directors have not yet commented publicly.
