Former Unilever CEO joins Said Business School board

Dr Vivienne Cox CBE, one of the UK’s premier business leaders, has also joined as vice-chairman.

The new appointments underline the school’s commitment to champion business as a solution to the world’s most pressing problems.

Paul Polman will chair a14-member governance group including representatives of business, the university, alumni, faculty and staff.

He has helped to define a new era of responsible capitalism as the driving force behind Unilever’s 10-year Sustainable Living Plan, an ambitious strategy which challenged the corporate status quo.

Professor Peter Tufano, Dean of Said Business School in Park End Street, said: “We are honoured that Paul has agreed to chair our School Board and that Vivienne will be our vice chair.

“Both are outstanding business leaders who have also demonstrated vision of working across boundaries to address the world’s critical challenges.

"There is huge synergy between the school’s mission and the purposeful values that Paul espouses.

"We share his view that it is vital to have purpose-driven leaders and organisations working together to find sustainable answers. Paul is joining us at a time when challenges to the world, and to business, are mounting.

"There is a growing expectation that business should have a deeper role – a duty to society as well as to its shareholders. Rising to these challenges is a complex task requiring judgment, commitment and resilience.”