Meet our Board of Directors
We’re guessing most of you know by now that Ben & Jerry’s is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, but we're betting you’ve never met our independent Board of Directors… It’s not a governing body in the conventional sense, but a (very!) independent B.O.D. that’s empowered to protect and defend Ben & Jerry’s brand equity and integrity. AND our product quality! They also make sure our entry level folks come into the company making a livable wage!
THEIR MISSION: Preserving and expanding Ben & Jerry’s social mission, brand integrity and product quality, by providing social mission-mindful insight and guidance to ensure we’re making the best ice cream possible in the best way possible.
All in all, they’re an enterprising group of mover-shakers and difference-makers who really know their stuff.
Best of all, they’re not stuffy about it. Meet them.
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Item number 1
Jeff Furman - aka Super Guy
Favorite Flavor: Cherry Garcia Frozen Yogurt
I got to know Ben and Jerry when Ben and I worked at a small residential school in upstate New York. I helped write the first business plan for the original store at the gas station in Burlington, and have been involved in almost all aspects of the business.
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Item number 2
Pierre Ferrari - aka The Blur
Favorite Flavor: Cherry Garcia
I attempt to ensure that all on the board are heard and that the three-part mission of the company is kept in harmony and is synergistic. We are working in a living laboratory on how sustainability can become an engine of value creation that dramatically exceeds common expectations.
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Item number 3
Jennifer Henderson - aka Wonderful Woman
Favorite Flavor: New York Super Fudge Chunk and Phish Food (tie)
I met Ben, Jerry and Jeff at the beginning of the One Percent for Peace Campaign. I had been working for years with Jobs for Peace to achieve a 25% transfer of military dollars to much-needed domestic spending on education, jobs, health and housing. The two efforts were naturally aligned. Soon after working as a volunteer on the One Percent for Peace Campaign, I was asked to help think through the organization of the Ben & Jerry's Foundation.
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Item number 4
Jostein Solheim - aka Scooper Man
Favorite Flavor: Chunky Monkey as a classic favorite, and Fair Trade Milk & Cookies has been growing on me (and my wife Rebecca!).
The world needs dramatic change to address the social and environmental challenges we are facing. Values led businesses can play a critical role in driving that positive change. We need to lead by example, and prove to the world that this is the best way to run a business.
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Item number 5
Terry Mollner - aka Mr. Midnight
Favorite Flavor: Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Why am I passionate about Ben & Jerry's?: Making sure the model we created, where the board of directors remains in existence in perpetuity with the ability to choose its successors and maintains primary responsibility for "the social mission and brand integrity," is a big success for all and is copied by others.
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Item number 6
Anuradha Mittal - aka Green Goddess
Favorite Flavor: It varies
This is real, practical work... an opportunity to give voice to what are called ideological fantasies, to see a vision for social change come to fruition, and to know how corporations can be made to behave in the world.
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Item number 7
Kees Van der Graaf - aka Depth Charge
Favorite Flavor: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
The lion share of my Unilever career I was directly or indirectly involved with the ice cream business. It is my favourite category. I have always been a fan of Ben & Jerry's three part mission approach.
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Item number 8
Helen Jones - aka Shock Wave
Favorite Flavor: Phish Food
I worked for Ben & Jerry's for almost 15 years. I was the first employee outside the US, hired to introduce B&J's to the Brits back in 1994. I have loved this company since the day I first walked into the office in Waterbury. Ben and Jerry inspired me then and nothing has changed.
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Item number 9
Daryn Dodson - aka Red Talon
Favorite Flavor: AmeriCone Dream
I learned about the Ben and Jerry’s Board with working with two other board members, Terry Mollner and Jennifer Henderson in the socially responsible investing movement and the New Orleans rebuilding movements respectively. Jennifer and Terry introduced me to the other directors who collectively invited me to join. I could not resist this opportunity to apply my experiences and creativity to grow this business’s positive impact on society worldwide.
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Item number 10
Annie Leonard - aka Sky Wing
Favorite Flavor: Half Baked FroYo
I’ve known Jeff and Anuradha for years through mutual friends and allies but only knew the basics about B&Js until I was asked to write the forward for a recent book on the company’s journey. In reading the stories behind the successes and struggles, I was inspired by the unwavering focus on social mission and the innovative relationship with Unilever. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know. I was thrilled when Jeff asked me to consider putting my name forth to join the board.
