Unilever (UL) fired Ben & Jerry Chief Executive Dave Stever over the ice cream maker's social policies, the company said in a legal filing late Tuesday, according to media reports.

In a filing in the Southern District of New York, Ben & Jerry's said Unilever informed it on March 3 that it was removing Stever without consulting directors because of his commitment to the company's social policies and brand integrity, not over his job performance, according to the reports.

Unilever did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.