Jim Lawrence has resigned as chief financial officer of Unilever after just over two years in the post. Lawrence, who joined the consumer goods giant in September 2007, lost out on the chief executive job last year to former Nestle CFO Paul Polman. A US citizen, Lawrence was CFO of US food group General Mills before joining Unilever. He is also a co-founder of strategy group the LEK Partnership and previously headed the London and Munich offices of consultancy Bain and Company. Lawrence said he had made 'many good friends' at Unilever but having seen the company through an important period of transition was 'now looking forward to pursuing new opportunities'. Polman said Lawrence had brought 'valuable experience and perspective' to the company. Unilever said that a successor to Lawrence would be named shortly.