Unilever launches global leadership development centre in Singapore

The company believes the facility will play a key role in developing the talent needed to lead Unilever, which aims to double the size of its business while halving its environmental impact and increasing its positive social impact.

The new facility highlights the company’s increasing focus on developing and emerging markets, which account for over 55 per cent of its global revenue.

Unilever's chief HR officer, Douglas Baillie, said the company chose Singapore due to its location between “the fastest growing and the developed markets”, and that Unilever's global management team and some global brand headquarters are already in the country.

The first Four Acres, in London, was established more than 60 years ago. The two facilities will have 90 programmes for 2,800 people every year, Baillie.

Four Acres Singapore, which spans 5.8 acres, was opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today, accompanied by Leo Yip, chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board; JTC CEO Png Cheong Boon; Ascendas president and CEO Manohar Khiatani; and Unilever CEO Paul Polman.

Polman said the facility will support Unilever’s efforts to develop business leaders who are “guided by values and understand the responsibility of leadership for the 21st century”.

“The launch of Four Acres Singapore will continue this tradition [of nurturing talent], further lifting our capacity and underlining our commitment to Asia,” he added.

The academic programme has been developed in partnership with academic and business institutions such as INSEAD, Harvard Business School and Singapore Management University.