How We’re Structured

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. Get to know our B.O.D. heroes!

Jennifer Henderson
- Previous
- Next
THE BASICS
Name: Jennifer Henderson - aka Wonderful Woman
Current Residence: Henderson, Nevada
Birth Place: Sacramento, California

FAVORITES
Ben & Jerry's Flavor: Phish Food & Chunky Monkey
Music: Alicia Keys; Lizzo; John Legend
Book/Movie: Becoming (Michelle Obama); The Other America (Michael Harrington); Art of War (Sun Tzu) and Entire Marvel Universe Movie Collection (The Avengers; Black Panther; Iron Man, Spiderman; all the superheroes!)
Quote: “If you surrender to the air, you could ride it.” Toni Morrison
“I’ve decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
NPO or Social/Environmental Cause: I spent my childhood living in several countries as part of a military family. Travel was a broadening and life-shaping experience. My parents continually encouraged me to become a global citizen --- embracing the diversity of people and cultures while seeking common ground. I knew that I was destined to spend my life working for peace, justice and equity. As an organizer, I received a rich education from an amazing set of people committed to securing basic human rights for everyone: community activists in Mississippi fighting for equal access to voting; migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina demanding clean drinking water in the fields; homeless women and their families in Philadelphia redeveloping abandoned buildings into affordable housing; enterprising teenagers in the South Bronx running their own farmers’ markets. Over the past four decades, I have worked as a justice and equity co-conspirator with people who are marginalized socially, economically and politically. I am fortunate to live my passion as a strategist/coach to organizations, communities, businesses and leaders advancing progressive policies in the areas of racial equity, civil rights, affordable housing, accessible health care, quality education and community economic development.

BEN & JERRY'S BIO
A little background...
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. With advice from myself and other activists and organizers from around the country, the Foundation established the employees as the decision-makers for grant making. After several years of working with the company on a number of projects, I was thrilled to be nominated and voted onto the Ben & Jerry's Board of Directors.
How long have I been on the BOD: Since 1996
My History with Ben & Jerry’s:
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. With advice from progressive activists and organizers from around the country, the Foundation established the employees as the decision-makers for grant making. After several years of working with the company on a number of projects, I was thrilled to be nominated and voted onto the Ben & Jerry's Board of Directors.
Why am I passionate about Ben & Jerry's?:
Ben & Jerry’s is the ultimate unicorn. Who else could have possibly envisioned a business being the ideal vehicle to advance social justice?!? The company’s three-part mission boldly states that business can and must operate in a way that is simultaneously ethical, sustainable and profitable. And it actually works! I believe that the company’s best ideas, practices, policies and victories are ahead. I am confident Ben & Jerry's will continue to evolve, re-invent and challenge itself in order to ultimately realize the vision of a just and caring world.
What is my role/purpose on the BOD:
Jeff, Pierre and I served on the BOD before the acquisition by Unilever. We have the informal responsibility for sharing the genesis, background and history of the company with new board members and Unilever. This knowledge has been very important in setting the context for decisions the company makes today. I also work with the board in the areas of the Social Audit, Board Development, and CEO Compensation. These committees are responsible for insuring that the terms laid out in the Sales Agreement are maintained.
What unique capabilities do I bring to Ben & Jerry's and the BOD?:
I have more than 40 years of experience in the fields of community economic development, urban and rural public policy advocacy, organizational development and social enterprises. These skills have been called upon as the company has 1) developed ways to partner with nonprofit organizations; 2) considered the community-wide implications of major decisions like closing a plant; 3) reviewed marketing campaigns that relayed a strong position on issues like Fair Trade; and 4) requested support and encouragement to the CEO and senior staff in their visioning and planning.
I have worked with stakeholders, including businesses, to create shared wealth and prosperity both inside businesses and within the larger community. This includes specific skills in strategic planning; organizational development; leadership development; team building; social, political and economic justice advocacy; and collaboration.
Like my fellow BOD members, I bring to Ben & Jerry's a wide network of relationships and contacts that have proven useful to the company. Currently, the work of my firm on food access, food security and food deserts might provide a lens to examine Ben & Jerry's role in the current debate regarding childhood obesity and other food-related maladies. As the BOD has become more visible to the employees and other company stakeholders, each of the BOD members has become even more intentional in sharing their specific expertise with the company, where appropriate and applicable.
Next: Matthew McCarthy
Matthew McCarthy
- Previous
- Next
THE BASICS
Name: Matthew McCarthy
Current Residence: Burlington, Vermont
Birth Place: Massachusetts
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mccarthy-001
Twitter: @mattymccarthy

FAVORITES
Ben & Jerry's Flavor: Phish Food
Music: Hard rock
Book/Movie: Wayne’s World
Places/Country to Visit: Faroe Islands
Quote: Constructive dissatisfaction with our status quo
NPO or Social/Environmental Cause: Men as Allies in Gender Equity & Greyhound Rescue Rehabilitation

BEN & JERRY'S BIO
A little background...
I’ve spent most of my career working in the food business – and I have always had a love and admiration for Ben & Jerry’s. I feel great excitement and gratitude now to have the opportunity to lead this incredible team and business. And the Ben & Jerry’s Board of Directors is something truly unique – living at the intersection of our business and our enduring Social Mission. I am equally excited that my role includes sitting on Ben & Jerry’s BOD.
How long have I been on the BOD: Since July, 2018
Why am I passionate about Ben & Jerry's?:
Passionate is such a great way to describe it – Ben & Jerry’s is among the most successful business and organizations anywhere. It completely changed the ice cream world when Ben & Jerry started their first scoop shop in 1978…Talk about ‘disruption,’ these guys were doing it decades before the term came into vogue! At the same time Ben & Jerry put their passion for supporting and speaking for marginalized people into the business. In doing so they redefined what business can be – That business can and should be a force for good in our society. This north star guides the team and I today in everything we do.
What is your role or purpose on the BOD?
My hope and goal are to increase the positive impact Ben & Jerry’s has in all the markets and communities we serve around the world. I feel fortunate to work with a tremendously talented and experienced team of Board members who reflect a deep and diverse set of perspectives. Their input and guidance play a key role for the Ben & Jerry’s company. I collaborate closely with the BOD members to bring our vision of Linked Prosperity to life in new and powerful ways.
What unique capabilities do you bring to Ben &Jerry’s and BOD?
Well I’m not sure I would go so far as say ‘unique,’ but I am excited to bring my 30 years of business and team leadership experience to Ben & Jerry’s. I started my career working with my dad in a small family business in Massachusetts and I have kept those early lessons close throughout my career. Lessons about how to treat others with respect; that building trust among the most important activities for any team; that your team members are the most valuable resource in any business or organization; and that leadership is all about having positive impact through teamwork. I like to dream big, scare myself a bit with setting big goals, and then working together with my team mates to make the seemingly impossible possible.
Next: Anuradha Mittal
Anuradha Mittal
- Previous
- Next
THE BASICS
Name: Anuradha Mittal - aka Green Goddess, Chair of the Board
Current Residence: U.S.
Birth Place: Meerut, India

FAVORITES
Ben & Jerry's Flavor:
Music: Jazz, Blues, Indian Bhangra
Book/Movie: Love to read—so hard to decide…
Places/Country to Visit: Galapagos Islands
Quote: "Until the lions tell their own story, tales of hunting will always glorify the hunter."
NPO or Social/Environmental Cause: Land and Indigenous Rights

BEN & JERRY'S BIO
A little background...
I was contacted by Jeff Furman who expressed an interest to have me join the board. Following that, I got to speak to other independent directors and was intrigued enough to take up the offer to join this incredible board.
How long have I been on the BOD: Since February 1, 2008
Why am I passionate about Ben & Jerry's?:
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 that business can lead with purpose.
What is my role/purpose on the BOD:
To ensure that Ben & Jerry's maintains, protects, and grows its social mission and product quality... to be really the "coolest" company that "determines" how to be in this world and set standards for other companies!
What unique capabilities do I bring to Ben & Jerry's and the BOD?: Expertise in the following areas: Passion for BnJ’s, Food and agriculture issues, social, economic, and environmental justice.

RESUME: Anuradha Mittal, founder and executive director of the Oakland Institute, is an internationally renowned expert on development, human rights, and agriculture issues. Recipient of several awards, Anuradha Mittal was named the Most Valuable Thinker by the Nation magazine.

Since 2008, under Anuradha's leadership, the Institute has unveiled land investment deals in the developing world which reveal a disturbing pattern of a lack of transparency, fairness, and accountability. The dynamic relationship between research, advocacy, and international media coverage has resulted in an amazing string of successes and organizing in the US and abroad.

Mittal has authored and edited numerous books and reports. Her articles and opinion pieces have been published in widely circulated newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Bangkok Post, Houston Chronicle, and the Nation. Anuradha has addressed the US Congress, the United Nations, given several hundred keynote addresses including invitational events from governments and universities, and has been interviewed on CNN, BBC World, CBC, ABC, Al Jazeera, National Public Radio and Voice of America.
Anuradha currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Ben & Jerry’s, providing leadership on social mission, brand integrity, and the company’s impact in 35 countries.
Next: Helen Jones
Helen Jones
- Previous
- Next
THE BASICS
Name: Helen Jones - aka Shock Wave
Current Residence: U.S.
Birth Place: Formby, near Liverpool

FAVORITES
Ben & Jerry's Flavor: Phish Food and I love the Wich.
Music: My favourite band is Amber Run. My youngest son was a member and their lead guitarist but is now pursuing a career in management.
Book/Movie: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry/The Lives of Others
Places/Country to Visit: Asia - India in particular
Quote: "Leaders grasp nettles."
NPO or Social/Environmental Cause: Promoting the importance of socially responsible business practice at Board level. I am the Chairman of the CSR Committee at Halfords Group plc.

BEN & JERRY'S BIO
A little background...
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. It was a fantastic experience and with my small and unbelievably talented team we built a great business in the UK before moving on to conquer Europe. Some of these guys are still involved but I left to pursue an exciting new career in the restaurant sector. Fortunately though, I must have done something right because I was invited back to join the BOD which is a great honour.
How long have I been on the BOD: Since January 29, 2011
Why am I passionate about Ben & Jerry's?:
Because 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. I consider myself unbelievably lucky to have had the opportunity to work with them and to spread the word across Europe. It helps of course that the ice cream is incredible too, but Ben & Jerry's really is a very special place.
What is my role/purpose on the BOD:
To bring European perspective to the group and experience of working within the Global Unilever framework.
What unique capabilities do I bring to Ben & Jerry's and the BOD?:
Being part of a global corporation has its challenges and my role was always to protect the integrity of the Ben & Jerry's brand as we grew. This is the experience I hope to bring to the BOD and the understanding of both Ben & Jerry's culture and Unilever's ways of working.

RESUME
In addition to my role at Ben & Jerry's, I'm a Non-Executive Director on three Company Boards in Europe.
Initially hired as the first employee for Ben & Jerry's outside the US, to build their UK business, she started by converting her spare bedroom at home into B&J's HQ. With the help of a second hand desk, a hired printer and small mobile freezer, she was set up as a one woman ice cream operation. As the UK business prospered she recruited more staff until they eventually outgrew their home-bases and moved into an office in Egham.

In 2000, Ben & Jerry's was acquired by Unilever so Helen managed this difficult transition, whilst retaining her team and the right to continue to run the UK business as an independent operation. She then went on to lead Ben & Jerry's European expansion strategy and the subsequent roll out as Regional Brand Development Director.

Helen was instrumental in securing Unilever's commitment to the sustainable dairy programme and the move to 100% Fairtrade certified ingredients across Europe. By 2009, Ben & Jerry's had launched in 15 European countries generating retail sales in excess of €250m. Not bad from a standing start and both personally and professionally, a proud achievement.

Helen left Ben & Jerry's / Unilever in July 2009 to join Zizzi, an Italian casual dining brand with 100 restaurants across the UK as their Managing Director.

In September 2012, she joined Caffe Nero as a Board Director to assist with, amongst other things, the International expansion programme
Next: Daryn Dodson
Daryn Dodson
- Previous
- Next
THE BASICS
Name: Daryn Dodson (@impactpreneur) - aka Red Talon
Current Residence: USA
Birth Place: Washington, DC

FAVORITES
Ben & Jerry's Flavor: Empower-Mint
Music: “We shall not be moved”
Book/Movie: The Great Debaters
Places/Country to Visit: Senegal
Quote: “Justice is what love looks like in public” Cornel West
NPO or Social/Environmental Cause: Business Justice. Yes, I made that up! The idea is that as business leaders embrace people’s hearts, minds, and resources to achieve justice, peace, and freedom, the world will become better for future generations.

BEN & JERRY'S BIO
A little background...
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.
How long have I been on the BOD: Since 2012
Why am I passionate about Ben & Jerry's?:
I am passionate that Ben & Jerry’s is on a learning journey. Not all companies go to meet civil rights leader John Lewis and ask his advice on how to be better. We have chosen to commit to stand by a set of values and rise to meet challenges that may not be solved in our lifetimes. Justice, Peace and Love are at the core of Ben and Jerry’s and echoing from that core is Social Justice and Climate Justice. By embracing these challenges, we see that we must engage in movements with our brothers and sisters of the next generation.
What is my role/purpose on the BOD:
My role is to make sure that the flavor graveyard is filled with ideas of all different types. The flavor graveyard celebrates failure as a byproduct of innovation— the flavors that did not sell well basically go to rest there with their own tombstone! As we push for both financial growth and the bounds of creating significant and measurable positive impact across our entire supply chain, we expect to make mistakes. And that’s okay. My role is to make sure we don’t get tired of the taste of failure, and that we always communicate our learning, ultimately offering a rigorously battle tested model that puts human dignity first.
What unique capabilities do I bring to Ben & Jerry's and the BOD?:As the Audit Committee Chair, my background in Impact Investing, Implicit Bias Reduction and Impact Measurement come in handy. My recent experience as Managing Director of Illumen Capital includes investing in impact private equity funds that seek to solve the world’s greatest challenges in education technology, healthcare technology, clean energy and financial inclusion. In doing so, we not only support funds that aspire to invest in the next generation of Ben and Jerry’s-like companies, but in the process we also help to create a more equitable world through a partnership with Stanford to reduce investors’ biases.
Next: Kevin Havelock
Kevin Havelock
- Previous
- Next
THE BASICS
Name: Kevin Havelock
Current Residence: London
Birth Place: London

FAVORITES
Ben & Jerry's Flavour: Cone Together
Music: Anything by Stevie Wonder or David Bowie.
Book/Movie: Siddhartha by Herman Hesse Movie: One flew over the Cuckoo‘s nest.

BEN & JERRY'S BIO
A little background...
After 25 years of working for Unilever I was promoted to my ultimate goal of working in ice cream with Ben & Jerry’s😊
How long have I been on the BOD: I have been on the board for over two years but have worked on Ben & Jerry’s for more than 15 years.
Why am I passionate about Ben & Jerry's?:I believe that companies should set the standards for thoughtful, caring, successful global communities. Ben & Jerry’s sets the action standard for purpose driven companies, looking to show that business can be successful while doing the right thing for the community and the planet.
What is your role or purpose on the BOD?
I try and draw on my global experience of ice cream markets to support the team on brand and innovation while passionately supporting the social mission.
What unique capabilities do you bring to Ben &Jerry’s and BOD?
Building brands, based on experience from living and working in different regions of the world
Next: Jennifer Henderson

* Jennifer Henderson *

* Matthew McCarthy *

* Anuradha Mittal *

* Helen Jones *

* Daryn Dodson *

* Kevin Havelock *

Jennifer Henderson

Matthew McCarthy

Anuradha Mittal

Helen Jones

Daryn Dodson

Kevin Havelock