Board induction and training

Upon election, Directors receive a comprehensive Directors’ Manual and are briefed thoroughly on their responsibilities and our business. Ongoing training is provided by way of site visits, presentations, circulated updates, teach-ins and agenda items at Board meetings on, among other things, Unilever’s business, corporate governance, regulatory developments, and investor relations matters.

In particular, during 2007 the Boards were given a presentation by our external legal advisers on the new directors’ duties under the UK Companies Act 2006.

A more detailed corporate governance statement, as well as the annual reports of the Audit, Nomination, Remuneration, and Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Committees, is contained in the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2007. This Annual Report, our Code of Business Principles, NV’s and PLC’s Articles of Association and The Governance of Unilever are available on our website at www.unilever.com/investorcentre/corpgovernance The Governance of Unilever contains, amongst other things, our rules on ‘Independence’ of Directors and the terms of reference of the Board Committees.

Read the rest of the Corporate governance section - Executive Directors' service contracts