Stephen Pain
Board Mentor
Criticaleye
Stephen is currently the VP of Sustainable Business and Communications at Unilever plc, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. He has extensive experience in corporate communications and organisational change, working across a range of leading FTSE 100 companies.
As VP, Stephen led the internal and external communication of Unilever’s purpose-driven, sustainable growth strategy and Connected for Growth (C4G) – the company’s transformational change programme. As a self-confessed ‘joiner-of-the-dots’, Stephen established a research-based communications strategy, upon which Unilever’s integrated approach to global communications was established. He business partnered with the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and the Chief HR Officer and was a member of the HR Leadership Team.
Additionally, Stephen is the Principal of Age of Good ®, a specialist strategic
communications consultancy. He is also Co-chair of the National Press Club, the world's leading professional organization for journalists, and Chairman of The Group, a leading online corporate communications consultancy.
He was formerly Group Corporate Affairs Director of Aviva plc, one of the world’s largest savings, investments and insurance groups. There, he led the communications team during the merger and integration of CGU and Norwich Union in 2000, and then, in 2002, launched the Aviva brand. Subsequently, he was the architect of the Group’s transformation from 40 brands to 1 global brand - Aviva. Prior to that, he was Corporate Affairs Director at retail group, Storehouse plc, and at Severn Trent plc, the water and waste services company.
Stephen’s own purpose is, ‘Being with others to grow something good’. He is expert in helping organisations leverage communications to become faster, simpler and have more impact through increased agility, flexibility and cross-functional teamwork.
He is a Visiting Executive Fellow at Henley Business School, where he contributes regularly to MBA programmes. He has co-written the following papers:
He is a Fellow and former Secretary of the Investor Relations Society.
