Paul Polman chairman Ubbo Emmius Fund

Unilever CEO Paul Polman (1956) has been appointed the new chairman of the Ubbo Emmius Fund (UEF), the alumni fund of the University of Groningen (RUG). This was announced yesterday at the general board meeting of the fund. Polman is the successor to Jan Willem Baud, who will remain active as a board member. The Ubbo Emmius Fund raises funds for chairs, scientific research , knowledge centers and scholarships . In 2013 the University received almost 3.4 million in donations and pledges for the coming years through the fund.

Honorary Doctorate

Polman studied Business Economics in Groningen and graduated in 1977. In June 2014 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Groningen because of "..his exceptional drive to combine entrepreneurship and sustainable development successfully.” Next to being the CEO of Unilever, Polman is also the chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and board member of UN Global Compact, the Consumer Goods Forum and Conservation International. At the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Polman was a member of the UN High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda in 2012 and 2013.

Board changes

During the meeting of the UEF general board yesterday, more changes in the composition of the board were announced. Jeroen Dietvorst (the owner of House of Sales and Schamhart and Dietvorst) and Eddie Perdok (CEO Kramp BV) joined the Executive Board of the UEF. They succeed Jan Overmeer and George Möller. The board of the Ubbo Emmius Fund consists of former students of the university, with leading positions in society. Board members receive no remuneration for their work for the benefit of the fund.

More information about the Ubbo Emmius Fund

• Ubbo Emmius Fund website
• Contact: Derk Bosker