Unilever’s new boss should seize last chance to exit Russia

After two months in charge, Hein Schumacher needs to act swiftly to change course with credibility

Hein Schumacher has been the chief executive of Unilever for two months now, which ought to be enough time to form an opinion on the issue that continues to generate more headlines about the consumer goods titan company than any other: its continued operating presence in Russia and its willingness to keep paying taxes to the Russian state.

Schumacher arrived promising to look with fresh eyes", which offered a grain of hope to Ukraine campaigners urging a rapid exit. So far, though, his inspection - which, in reality, wasn't a huge leap from the company's previous stance of keeping its Russia presence under close review" - has yielded no update. It's time to say something. If the current dance lasts much longer, Schumacher will look like he's playing for time and hoping, against all evidence, that the noise will go away.