Chief Enterprise Architect

Unilever Ice Cream, the world’s largest ice cream company, will separate from Unilever in 2025. Known for iconic brands like Ola, Magnum, and Ben & Jerry’s, the company is embarking on a new chapter. The Chief Enterprise Architect will build the technology strategy from scratch, lead the IT transformation, and shape the future of the company.

About Unilever Ice Cream

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest ice cream company in the world. By the end of 2025, they will become a standalone entity, separating from Unilever. This strategic move is designed to unlock the full growth potential of the ice cream business, which will operate under a new ownership structure, distinct from Unilever’s other operations.

As part of the highly-attractive snacking and refreshment category, a one trillion dollar global industry, Unilever Ice Cream has consistently shown rapid growth. In 2023, it achieved a €7.9 billion turnover, further strengthening its key position in the market. They have a presence in more than sixty countries and operate thirty five brands, five of which are the top ten global ice cream brands, including Ola Magnum, and Ben & Jerry’s. Unilever Ice Cream also enjoys significant brand equity and is well-positioned to continue its success as a separate business.

Unilever Ice Cream has a well-defined strategy that focuses on driving growth and value creation. Committed to developing and nurturing talent within its organization, they offer many career growth opportunities, especially during its transition into a standalone structure. Currently based in Rotterdam, the company will relocate to Amsterdam in 2025.

Vacancy: Chief Enterprise Architect

Unilever Ice Cream is embarking on an exciting journey to become an independent company by the end of 2025. To succeed, the right leadership, strategy, and technology are all essential. The newly-created Chief Enterprise Architect role offers a unique and impactful opportunity to shape the future of the company by building its entire technology foundation from the ground up. This is a rare leadership function where the right individual plays a crucial role in guiding the company’s strategic direction and driving its technological vision into a new era.

As the visionary behind the company’s enterprise architecture, the Chief Enterprise Architect will shape the future of Unilever Ice Cream’s IT landscape, and guide its technological strategy to ensure scalability, security, and innovation. This transformative leadership role will be at the heart of one of the most significant transitions in the company’s history, and prepare for its long-term success and growth in a highly-competitive market.

This role joins the new Ice Cream Technology Team, which is developing all necessary technological capabilities to support Unilever Ice Cream as an independent business. Reporting directly to the Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO), the Chief Enterprise Architect will lead the architectural strategy across the enterprise. As part of the IT Leadership team, they collaborate with key leaders, including the Strategy and Portfolio Director, Chief Cybersecurity Officer, Chief Data Officer, Enterprise Solutions Director, Technology Platforms Director, and Head of Global Functions and Business Demand — all of whom report directly to the CTIO.

This role will also oversee a remote team of five architects based in Spain. They each focus on areas such as integration, security, cloud, data, and applications. In addition, the Chief Enterprise Architect closely collaborates with teams across product management, operations, and development to ensure that all technology initiatives align with the company’s strategic objectives.

Working with technology leaders, business partners, and stakeholders, this role will also create an enterprise-wide architecture blueprint aligned with long-term business goals. Developing a comprehensive technology roadmap, the Chief Enterprise Architect ensures the organization is future-ready and equipped to tackle emerging challenges, including AI, big data, and cloud technologies.

To succeed, this role is a visionary leader with a deep understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks and emerging technologies, capable of driving large-scale transformations. Pragmatic yet innovative, they’re confident in leading change, and skilled at simplifying complex challenges. A strategic thinker with strong leadership and communication abilities, they inspire teams, influence key stakeholders, and implement ambitious goals. Passionate about innovation and results-driven, the Chief Enterprise Architect excels at building the technical foundation needed to achieve long-term growth.

“The Chief Enterprise Architect is at the heart of technology transformation within the organization. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to shape the technology backbone of an entirely new company that happens to be the largest of its kind in the world.” – Marc O’Brien, CTIO of Unilever Ice Cream

Unilever Ice Cream is committed to transforming everyday moments into extraordinary experiences through innovative products that bring joy to consumers and positively impact communities. The role will initially be based in Rotterdam, and then move to Amsterdam in 2025.

Interested?

Unilver Ice Cream is working with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.
To express your interest, please contact Jessica Lim at jessica.lim@topofminds.com