Thinking big and caring big in FMCG market

Unilever CEO believes passion is key driver to success in leadership

Paul Polman says he cannot remember exactly how many times he has been to China since Jan 1, 2009, when he became chief executive officer of the multinational Anglo-Dutch company Unilever. But he has a clear picture of how to thrive and continue to thrive in the fast-moving consumer goods market in the world's second-largest economy, despite the slowdown in economic growth and increasingly fierce competition.

The veteran of the sector says he plays big in order to win. Acquiring the Qinyuan Group, a leading Chinese water purification business, in March is one of his strategies to become top dog the water purification market in China, an area expanding at a fast pace.