The company that runs one of Gloucester's biggest manufacturing bases has a new chairman after the incumbent decided to stand down.

Unilever - who operate the huge ice cream factory in Barnwood - have announced that Marijn Dekkers has decided to stand down as chairman with immediate effect.

He will be replaced by Nils Andersen, previously a non-executive director, who has been appointed by the board to the role of chairman.

Mr Dekkers was appointed chairman of the Anglo-Dutch consumer giant in April 2016 but has stood down to concentrate on his focus on his investment and advisory firm Novalis LifeSciences.

He will continue to serve on the board of Unilever as a non-executive director.

Mr Dekkers said: "It has been a huge honour to serve as Chairman of Unilever and I am very proud of the work we continue to do as a truly purpose-driven company.

"My decision to step down has been a difficult one to make but I look forward to seeing Unilever go from strength to strength under Nils as Chairman."

Nils Andersen has served on the Unilever Board since April 2015 and is currently a member of the Board's Audit Committee.

He has significant business experience and was previously Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S from 2007 to 2016 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Carlsberg A/S and Carlsberg Breweries A/S from 2001 to 2007.

He has served as Chairman at AkzoNobel N.V. since April 2018 and is a Non-Executive Director at BP plc.

Mr Andersen also serves as Chairman of the privately-held Salling Group A/S. He intends to step down from his roles at BP plc and Salling Group A/S in March 2020, prior to the Unilever AGM.

He said: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Marijn for his strong leadership and the contribution he has made as Chairman.

"I am very proud to have been asked to succeed Marijn and I look forward to working with the Board and the Unilever Leadership team to support the company's continued growth."