BRIEF-Reuters Next - Unilever CEO says global consumption trends to be suppressed in H1

Unilever PLC: * CEO SAYS BUSINESS IN NORTH ASIA IS ALMOST BACK TO USUAL

* CEO SAYS PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US THAT WE CAN CONVERT FACTORIES TO MAKE WHAT TAKES 2 MONTHS TO 2 DAYS * CEO SAYS PANDEMIC HAS MADE A LOT OF HEIRARCHY ACROSS ORGANIZATION DISAPPEAR WITHIN COMPANY

* CEO SAYS WE NEVER ANTICIPATE GOING BACK TO A 5 DAY WORK WEEK AT THE OFFICE * CEO SAYS WE WILL BE STRONGLY ENCOURAGING NOT MANDATING VACCINE TAKING BY EMPLOYEES

* CEO SAYS FOR ANTIVAXXERS , WE WILL RESORT TO TESTING TO ENSURE WORKFLOW CONTINUES * CEO SAYS WE WILL SEE FIRST HALF OF YEAR TO BE OF SUPPRESSED CONSUMPTION; EXPECT THAT TO COME BACK IN H2

* CEO SAYS WE ARE BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL IN EAST ASIA, NOTABLY SINGAPORE AND CHINA * CEO SAYS AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA MARKETS HAVE BEEN MORE RESILIENT THAN EXPECTED

* CEO SAYS AT THE MOMENT STILL CANNOT GIVE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK FOR THE YEAR * CEO SAYS DO NOT EXPECT ANY SETBACKS ON THE MARGIN PERSPECTIVE THIS YEAR

* CEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA SPEND SAYS WE ARE STILL USING SOCIAL MEDIA AS A POWERFUL TOOL IN PLACES LIKE CHINA AND AFRICA * CEO SAYS "KEEN TO SEE AN ORDERLY TRANSITION OF POWER IN THE UNITED STATES;" DONT MAKE ANY POLITICAL DONATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

* CEO SAYS TWO CHANNELS HAVE BEEN REALLY GROWING QUICKLY FOR US IS E-COMMERCE AND THE OTHER IS PROXIMITY RETAIL (CONVENIENCE STORES) * CEO SAYS IN MARKETS LIKE ASIA PEOPLE ARE SHIFTING AWAY FROM BIG BOX TRIPS TO LOCAL STORES

* CEO ON M&A SAYS "DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR SEEING ANY SIGNIFICANT DISPOSALS IN BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE BUSINESS" * CEO ON M&A SAYS THERE MAY BE SOME CLEANUP OF SMALL BRANDS IN BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE, BUT THEY WILL BE MINIMAL IMPACT

* CEO SAYS WE PICK MATERIAL SUPPLIERS BASED ON ESG EFFORTS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY GIVE BUSINESS TO THOSE THAT FOLLOW OUR ESG STANDARDS * CEO SAYS MORE THAN 50% OF OUR INNOVATIONS CONTAIN IP SOURCED FROM STARTUPS Further company coverage: