Unilever is turning its iconic ice cream business, home to Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s, into a standalone powerhouse.
What does it really take to spin off an €8.5B global business?
Sandeep Desai, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Unilever Ice Cream, takes us inside the transformation. From leading 9,000+ employees across 38 factories and 130 warehouses, to managing the emotional and operational shift of a corporate breakup, Sandeep shares the raw realities of change at scale.
We talk leadership, legacy, and how to navigate disruption without losing your team, or your soul.
Listen to the full discussion here:
Connect with the Guest:
Sandeep Desai is a seasoned global supply chain executive with over 20 years of experience at Unilever. He currently serves as the Chief Supply Chain Officer for Ice Cream, where he leads a global operation spanning 9,000 employees, 38 factories, and 130 warehouses, supporting a business with a turnover of €8.5 billion. His role covers the full end-to-end supply chain, including planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and customer service.
Since joining Unilever in 2002 as a management trainee, Sandeep has held a range of leadership roles across procurement, manufacturing, and supply chain in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe. His previous positions include Global Head of Supply Chain for Home Care, Head of Supply Chain for Southeast Asia and Australia, and Vice President Supply Chain for the Philippines and Southern Africa. He is widely recognized for his ability to lead complex transformations, build high-performing teams, and deliver operational excellence across diverse markets.
Highlights & Show Notes:
- [00:40] Introduction to Sandeep Desai and the global scale and complexity of managing the ice cream supply chain at Magnum.
- [01:47] Three major career inflection points, starting with the importance of a multi-lane supply chain background, leading transformation, and working across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe, emphasizing adaptability and diversity.
- [07:02] Reflects on the emotional impact of the ice cream business transition and navigating the personal transformation required to lead through it authentically.
- [12:06] The “5G moment” metaphor: building new systems without legacy constraints.
- [16:49] Massive operational challenge of recruiting 700 roles and running multiple parallel responsibilities, including business continuity, disentanglement, and future-building.
- [22:15] The importance of leading with calmness during high-pressure transitions, taking accountability, and maintaining a balanced mindset by focusing on effort over outcome.
- [26:11] Attributes needed in a talent: deep supply chain expertise, learning agility, resilience, and the ability to handle ambiguity and transformation.
Quotes from the Episode:
About the Host:
What a great discussion I had with Sandeep Desai. I am your host, Radu Palamariu, Group CEO of Alcott Global, working on C-level and top management executive search assignments with Top Fortune 500 companies and local conglomerates in value chains for manufacturing, logistics, transportation, supply chain management, and e-commerce and also the co-author of “From Source to Sold – Stories of Leadership in Supply Chain”.
Alcott Global provides executive search solutions for key positions at all pillars of end-to-end value chains from general management to overall supply chain operations, including executive and non-executive board roles, globally.
At Makers & Movers, we bring together C-level executives from multinational companies to connect, collaborate, and innovate on a forum focused on business value creation.
Yearly, at the Leaders in Supply Chain Awards, we celebrate and award the Top 30 Leaders in Supply Chain who push for excellence and inspire the future of the industry through exceptional leadership and operational excellence. Join us on September 10.
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