Unilever has opened its first global training centre outside the UK to train future leaders.
The fmcg giant said it had chosen to open the centre in Singapore because more than 50% of its turnover now comes from developing and emerging markets.
In April this year, its first-quarter results revealed emerging markets notched up double-digit growth, accounting for 57% of total turnover. In contrast, it described growth in developed markets as “sluggish”.
“Singapore sits at the nexus of the developed and emerging world,” said CEO Paul Polman. “It’s a leading hub for leadership and innovation, and a gateway to the rapidly growing Asian economies. When our future leaders come here, whichever part of the world they come from, they will gain exposure to new insights.”
The €50m, Four Acres Singapore centre would play a key role in developing future leaders with a ‘purpose-driven’ approach to business, Polman said. It will be responsible for more than half of Unilever’s global leadership development programmes. The remainder will be trained at the company’s Four Acres centre in London.
“In an increasingly volatile and uncertain world, a new type of leader is being called for - both in Unilever and society as a whole,” Polman added. “These leaders must be guided by values and understand the responsibility of leadership for the 21st century.”
“Four Acres London has set the standard in leadership development since it was established over 60 years ago.”
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