(Reuters) - Unilever ( UL ) said on Tuesday Hein Schumacher will step down as CEO and be replaced by finance chief Fernando Fernandez.

Schumacher, who joined in July 2023, will step down as CEO in March and will leave the company on May 31, the consumer goods giant said.

He is leaving by mutual agreement, it added.

Srinivas Phatak, currently Unilever's ( UL ) deputy chief financial officer and group controller, will become acting CFO, it said.

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)