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JUAN LERENA, WHISTLEBLOWER ON UNILEVER

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Seven years ago, when Juan Lerena encountered things he couldn’t stomach at his employer, Malaysian multinational Sime Darby Hudson Knight, he decided to do something about it. After resigning, Lerena reported the company and Dutch multinational Unilever to the South African competition authorities – and every other regulatory body he could think of. Sime Darby has admitted collusion and paid a fine of R35m. Unilever’s hearing at the Competition Tribunal, originally scheduled for last Friday, began on Monday and is set down to run from 10am to 4pm until Friday (19 July). There’s clearly a great deal at stake for the Dutch company which has invested a fortune in projecting a squeaky clean image. Including the small matter of a potential fine of hundreds of millions of rand.

18 Jul 2019 12PM English South Africa Business News · Investing Gugulethu Mfuphi

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