Nicky Sparshott

Background

About Nicky Sparshott

I'm a globally experienced CEO and transformation leader with 30 years driving growth across FMCG and retail in Asia Pacific, UK, and Europe. I've led complex multi-category portfolios and diverse business models—from owned retail and e-commerce to wholesale and joint ventures—within blue-chip companies including Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble. I'm known for building high-performance cultures that deliver exceptional results, leading consumer-driven growth and innovation, and integrating profit with purpose—driving sustainable value creation across diverse markets and stakeholder groups. Most recently as Global Chief of Transformation at Unilever, I drove enterprise-wide value creation through organizational design, performance culture, and portfolio optimization—contributing to significant uplift in Total Shareholder Return. As CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand, I delivered a sustained business turnaround with market-leading growth, profitability, and share gains while transforming ANZ into the world's largest certified multi-category B-Corp. I've successfully scaled multi-billion-dollar divisions and high-growth acquisitions. As Global CEO of T2 Tea, I tripled the business through international expansion and channel diversification. Leading Unilever's Ice Cream & Beverages in Asia Pacific, I doubled revenue through breakthrough innovation and capital efficiency, making Asia the most profitable region. Recognized as CEO of the Year in 2022, I'm a sought-after speaker at TEDx and SXSW on transformative leadership and high-performance cultures. I currently chair University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Vice Chancellor's Industry Advisory Board, serve as Non-Executive Director at Australian Agricultural Company (ASX:AAC), Carma Cars and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and board adviser to Moose Toys. Based in Sydney, I hold qualifications from INSEAD,(Executive Masters of Change) UTS (Master of International Business and Bachelor of Business), and the Australian Institute of Company Directors and am a current PhD candidate. The best advice I have ever received is,"When you are dancing on thin ice, you may as well tap dance," a philosophy I embrace in both my professional and personal life!