Unilever boss Antony Burgmans faces strong shareholder criticism at the group's agm today over the Anglo-Dutch company's disappointing performance.
An influential Dutch shareholders association, VEB, asked investors to vote against his appointment and said Unilever should consider whether more value would be created by a break-up of the world's third-biggest food group and top soaps and detergents company.
Unilever is trying to reignite sales growth after a dismal 2004 when it gave its first profit warning in a 76-year history, and gave up sales and earnings targets.
Mr Burgmans is slated to become non-executive chairman of Unilever until 2007, and the co-chairman of the executive board, Patrick Cescau, has taken on the group chief executive title in a simplification of top management.
VEB requested the meeting not to appoint Mr Burgmans as chairman, a post he could still get due to the large voting power of a management-friendly Trust Office.
VEB also called upon Unilever to investigate the interaction between the various operating units in food, home care and personal products.
Last week, Unilever beat market forecasts with a 24 per cent jump in first-quarter net earnings to €934 million, amid signs of a turnaround from the disastrous 2004.