Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Leadership In The Community
Websites
Timeline
Generic

ERIC OSTERN

Wayne

Summary

Experienced Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, and Communications professional. Strong track record of leading global strategies, developing corporate programs, and cultivating relationships that drive social, economic, and environmental impact while enhancing business growth. Trusted advisor to leadership and business teams, adept at integrating sustainability into business strategies, translate global sustainability strategies locally, manage external relationships to advance shared business agenda, and leverage communication platforms to drive awareness, educate stakeholders, and build reputation.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience

Work History

DIRECTOR, Global Head of Sustainability Beauty & Wellbeing

UNILEVER
06.2022 - Current
  • Appointed to lead the global strategy and oversight of Sustainability across Beauty & Wellbeing, a newly formed business group within Unilever. Results: Integrated sustainability into business strategy and deliver on targets.
  • Global Strategy: Develop global sustainability strategy and oversee its integration into the business with a focus on Plastics and Climate. Serve on the CSO’s Leadership Team contributing to Unilever’s sustainability strategy.
  • Governance: Co-created cross-functional governance structures to lead the development and execution of the Plastics and Climate strategies. Additionally, oversee performance management frameworks to keep leadership appraised of progress, barriers, and required unlocks.
  • Business Integration: Champion sustainability as a core principle within product innovations by co-creating frameworks and trainings as part of Marketing and R&D’s innovation process.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Engage externally to build B&W’s reputation in sustainability and identify insights for business planning.
  • Communications: Drive awareness of B&W’s sustainability strategy and inspire employees to embrace sustainability via internal communication channels and platforms.

Director, Global Partnerships & Advocacy

UNILEVER
10.2015 - Current
  • Led the development & oversight of transformational partnership programs, social investments, commercial strategies, & advocacy initiatives designed to advance Unilever’s health & well-being sustainability agenda. Results: Created signature partnerships delivering business growth and contributing to sustainability targets.
  • Global/Regional Strategic Alignment: Set the vision & directed strategies for Unilever’s global Health & Well-being partnerships related advocacy initiatives, and Disaster & Emergency Response. Collaborated with in-market colleagues to localize efforts. Served on CSO’s Leadership Team contributing to overall strategy and management.
  • Brand & Business Integration: Partnered with leading Beauty & Personal Care brands to deliver purpose-led initiatives that increased sales & brand equity; impacted 22M+ lives; & secured ~$4M in third party funding.
  • IGO/NGO Liaison: Cultivated global partnerships with leading IGOs/NGOs: UNICEF, Gavi, Oxfam, PSI, Promundo, UN Foundation, & WaterAid.
  • External Relations: Spoke on behalf of the company at the United Nations High Level Political Forum, United Nations World Toilet Day, & Business for Social Responsibility conference.
  • Reputation Management/Thought Leadership: Facilitated &/or supported executive speaking platforms at venues such as the World Economic Forum & the United Nations General Assembly.

Sustainability, Global Functions

UNILEVER
09.2019 - 06.2022
  • Led development of a new function within Global Sustainability to leverage sustainability as a driver for delivering business and social, economic, and environmental impact across the global Sales organization. Results: 65% of Unilever’s global Sales teams embedded sustainability into joint business plans with retailers.
  • Business Integration: Developed the strategy, execution plan, community of practice, and resources to build sustainability-centric partnerships delivering joint value creation.
  • Program Development: Piloted the launch of the framework for building sustainability collaborations with Unilever’s Walmart International Sales followed by a roll-out globally across Unilever’s Sales organization.
  • Relationship Management: Cultivated relationships with counterparts at top retailers, facilitating sustainability dialogues to foster strategic alignment, thought leadership, and partnership opportunities.
  • Stakeholder Management: Orchestrated Unilever’s strategic participation at the Consumer Goods Forum, ensuring an impactful presence.
  • Impactful Leadership: Oversaw Unilever’s Traditional Trade efforts in developing countries enhancing scale and social impact via digital tools and financial services for retailers serving rural areas in developing countries.

Sr. Manager, Global Partnerships

UNILEVER
09.2011 - 09.2015
  • Led the development & oversight of transformational partnership programs, social investments, commercial strategies, & advocacy initiatives designed to advance Unilever’s health & well-being sustainability agenda. Results: Created signature partnerships delivering business growth and contributing to sustainability targets.
  • Global/Regional Strategic Alignment: Set the vision & directed strategies for Unilever’s global Health & Well-being partnerships related advocacy initiatives, and Disaster & Emergency Response. Collaborated with in-market colleagues to localize efforts. Served on CSO’s Leadership Team contributing to overall strategy and management.
  • Brand & Business Integration: Partnered with leading Beauty & Personal Care brands to deliver purpose-led initiatives that increased sales & brand equity; impacted 22M+ lives; & secured ~$4M in third party funding.
  • IGO/NGO Liaison: Cultivated global partnerships with leading IGOs/NGOs: UNICEF, Gavi, Oxfam, PSI, Promundo, UN Foundation, & WaterAid.
  • External Relations: Spoke on behalf of the company at the United Nations High Level Political Forum, United Nations World Toilet Day, & Business for Social Responsibility conference.
  • Reputation Management/Thought Leadership: Facilitated &/or supported executive speaking platforms at venues such as the World Economic Forum & the United Nations General Assembly.

Sr. Manager, Americas Sustainability & Community Relations

UNILEVER
06.2007 - 08.2011
  • Directed sustainability & community relations strategies across North America, as well as aligned the Americas region with Unilever’s global sustainability strategy. Key accountabilities: Brand integration, stakeholder engagement, communications, strategic philanthropy, employee volunteerism, & community relations.
  • Program Leadership: Led the launch of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan in North America raising company profile among external thought leaders & deepening business relationships with renowned experts.
  • Executive Communications: Developed executive communication platforms to amplify Unilever’s global sustainability strategy.
  • Corporate Citizenship: Directed the Unilever Foundation’s annual giving and re-engineered the strategy to align with the business, enhancing synergies with community relations.
  • Brand & Business Integration: Managed sustainability positioning, stakeholder strategies, & policy initiatives for leading brands (e.g., Lipton Tea & Hellmann’s).
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Led stakeholder engagement strategy enhancing corporate reputation & garnering insights for business planning.
  • Company Spokesperson: Served as spokesperson at high-profile forums including Business for Social Responsibility, Sustainable Brands, & United Nations Office of Partnerships.

Marketing Director

FINANCIAL DYNAMICS BUSINESS COMMUNCATIONS
05.2005 - 06.2007
  • Advised clients on CSR strategy and communications while managing projects across diverse sectors (e.g., retail, biometrics, telecommunications, and pharma). Results: Contributed to ~15% increase in department revenues.
  • Client Advisory: Advised clients on corporate communications focused on services & business results.
  • Project Management: Managed the project execution associated with the development of client’s annual reports.

Manager, Corporate Affairs Programs

PHILIP MORRIS USA
09.1995 - 04.2005
  • Managed Corporate Affairs programs focused on business critical issues impacting the company’s license to operate. Results: Launched public programs and resources to advance policy & build corporate reputation.
  • Corporate Affairs Program Development: Re-engineered a $30 million grant portfolio & built strategic partnerships: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys & Girls Clubs, National 4-H Council, & Tufts University.
  • Corporate Affairs Programs & Planning: Led programs, communications, & positioning across Corporate Programs, Issues Management, Media Relations, External Affairs, & Government Relations to address regulation.

Education

Master of Business Administration - Marketing

New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology with Honors

Binghamton University

Skills

  • Strategy development
  • Business & Brand Integration
  • Global/Regional Alignment
  • Cross-functional Collaboration
  • External Relations
  • Reputation management
  • Executive Counsel
  • Performance Management
  • Governance
  • Corporate Affairs Programming
  • Advocacy
  • Corporate Citizenship

Leadership In The Community

  • GBC Health, Judge, Business Action on Health Award
  • Temple Beth Tikvah, Board of Directors; Publicity Chair; Ad Journal Chair
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Richmond, Judge, Youth of the Year
  • Wayne Township Commuter Mobilization, Project Lead & Media Spokesperson

Websites

Timeline

DIRECTOR, Global Head of Sustainability Beauty & Wellbeing

UNILEVER
06.2022 - Current

Sustainability, Global Functions

UNILEVER
09.2019 - 06.2022

Director, Global Partnerships & Advocacy

UNILEVER
10.2015 - Current

Sr. Manager, Global Partnerships

UNILEVER
09.2011 - 09.2015

Sr. Manager, Americas Sustainability & Community Relations

UNILEVER
06.2007 - 08.2011

Marketing Director

FINANCIAL DYNAMICS BUSINESS COMMUNCATIONS
05.2005 - 06.2007

Manager, Corporate Affairs Programs

PHILIP MORRIS USA
09.1995 - 04.2005

Master of Business Administration - Marketing

New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology with Honors

Binghamton University

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