Eric Ostern, MBA
Senior Advisor, Sustainability
Eric Ostern is an enterprise strategy and transformation leader with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of ESG impact, commercial priorities, and operating-model design. He brings a systems-level understanding of how external forces shape business performance and translates them into strategies, operating models, and governance frameworks that drive scalable value creation.
Mr. Ostern spent 18 years at Unilever, most recently as the Global Head of Sustainability for Beauty & Wellbeing, advancing climate and packaging priorities across the value chain. He built the systems, capabilities, and narratives that strengthened consumer trust and delivered measurable environmental improvements alongside commercial growth. Throughout his Unilever tenure, Mr. Ostern led high-impact enterprise sustainability initiatives. He launched an innovative cross-sector global partnership model with leading brands and NGOs in growth markets that strengthened brand equity, expanded commercial reach, and improved health outcomes for more than 20 million people. He designed a framework for commercializing sustainability, built enterprise learning platforms, and partnered with the Sales organization to embed sustainability into joint business plans with retailers; these efforts successfully positioned sustainability as a commercial growth driver. Additionally, he directed the launch of the Sustainable Living Plan across the Americas, mobilizing a regional sustainability network and managing external stakeholder relationships.
Mr. Ostern began his career in Corporate Affairs at a Fortune 100 consumer goods company, operating in one of the most highly regulated consumer industries. He led programs and partnerships with industry leaders that advanced responsible business practices and safeguarded the company’s license to operate.
He is currently the Principal of Convergence Consulting, where he advises organizations navigating enterprise transformation. He helps leadership teams integrate business strategy with sustainability priorities to maximize ESG impact, while developing the operating models, governance structures, and cross-functional processes that build long-term resilience and mitigate risk.
Education
MBA – Marketing, New York University, Stern School of Business
B.A. – Psychology with Honors, Binghamton University
Community Leadership
Track Chair, Sustainable Brands 2026 Conference
Guest Lecturer, Binghamton University School of Management
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