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= Arthur H. Smith = Sir Arthur Henry Smith (1905 - 1989) was a businessman, best known for holding the positions of Director of the UAC and Unilever in the 40's and 60's and for being awarded the CBE and the Cross of the Legion d'Honneur.

Career
Arthur Smith joined the Niger Company in 1923, working with the Compagnie du Niger Francais, based in Dakar. After the formation of UAC in 1929 he specialized in the company’s interests in French and Belgian Africa.

On the outbreak of war in 1940 he took charge of the Paris office of Niger, France, which was initially moved to Bordeaux. In 1943 he was appointed Adviser to the British Government’s economic mission to French West Africa. He became a director of UAC in 1945, of Unilever Ltd 1948, and Unilever NV 1949, and was Joint Managing Director from 1952 to 1955, and Chairman of UAC 1955-1969. It was during Smith’s chairmanship of the company that the first phase of ‘diversification’ within the company gained momentum, i.e. the move away from produce-buying and general merchandising into specialized retail activities, local manufacture, and distribution, focusing on motors, drugs and perfumery, textiles and breweries. It was also during this period that in line with progress towards political independence, the first moves towards ‘Africanization’ were made, with the decision to incorporate locally registered companies in place of the former overseas ‘Departments’, although these were still wholly owned, and the locally appointed board members did not yet have any executive powers.

In 1951 he was awarded the Cross of the Legion d’Honneu r by the French Government for his services to French Colonial Africa, and he was knighted in 1968.