Harry Brouwer's career started in 1983 when he joined Bestfoods as a marketer. After several marketing positions, he moved to sales, first as Fieldforce Manager and later in Account Management. He then became Marketing Director for The Netherlands.
In 1989, he got the responsibility for the development and acceleration of Food Solutions (called Caterplan in those days) in all South East Asian Countries, and started the Food Solutions business in China and Indonesia (living in Hong Kong)
In 1992, he became the Marketing and Sales Director for The Netherlands during which Conimex was acquired. His next position was General Manager of Ireland (living in Dublin). During this time, he was also responsible for the acquisition and integration of Pot Noodles in the UK.
In 1996, by moving to New Jersey, USA, his career continued in the responsibility of Strategy Development and Global Marketing as he became Global Business Director reporting to the Executive Commitee.
In 1998, Harry moved back to The Netherlands to start working as Retail Director for the Benelux. After the acquisition of Bestfoods by Unilever, he became the Business Director Unilever Bestfoods in Germany. He was responsible for Marketing and for the Integration of Bestfoods and Unilever in Germany (living in Heilbronn and Hamburg).
In the period 2004 - 2009, Harry was the Chairman of Unilever Bestfoods The Netherlands. Together with the operating companies Lever Faberge and Iglo Mora Group this developed as first European country (via the One Unilever approach), to Unilever The Netherlands and later Unilever Benelux, which Harry chaired.
The next five years (starting from 2009), Harry became Chairman / EVP of Unilever DACH, turning a company culture positively and getting the business performance back on the right track.
Since September 2014, Harry is the new EVP for Unilever Food Solutions. He is top and bottom line responsible together with 4.500 UFS colleagues around the world.
Harry's purpose is:
'To see the soul, and make the difference!' To develop businesses and people through openness, transparency and honesty. His experience is in transforming business and company cultures, acquiring and divesting businesses and developing people.
Personal background and interest:
In his free time Harry enjoys spending time with his family, to travel around, learning more about cultural similarities and differences and sports.