Priya Nair has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), becoming the company’s first female leader in its 92-year history. The five-year term begins August 1, 2025, marking a significant milestone in India’s FMCG landscape.
Nair will succeed Rohit Jawa, who will step down on July 31 after serving just over two years in the role. Jawa leaves after a distinguished 37‑year career with Unilever, during which he led HUL through a strategic transformation called the ASPIRE initiative, focused on high-margin categories and operational efficiency.
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A Career Built Over Three Decades
Nair’s journey began in 1995 when she joined HUL—then Hindustan Lever—in sales and marketing. Over the years, she held key roles including:
- Executive Director, Home Care (2014–2020)
- Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care (2020–2022)
- Global Chief Marketing Officer, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, followed by President of the same division since 2023.
Notably, during her time at Unilever, she led a €12–13 billion Beauty & Wellbeing portfolio across global markets.
Educationally, Nair holds a commerce degree from Sydenham College, Mumbai, an MBA in marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, and completed an executive leadership program at Harvard Business School.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Her appointment breaks a long-standing gender barrier at HUL. As the first woman to assume this top role, Nair joins a growing league of female leaders from HUL. Past examples include Leena Nair (now global CEO at Chanel), Prabha Narasimhan (MD at Colgate-Palmolive India), and Harman Dhillon (Executive Director at HUL).
HUL Chairman Nitin Paranjpe praised Nair’s “deep understanding of the Indian market and excellent track record,” expressing confidence in her ability to lead the company into its next growth phase.
What Priya Nair Brings to the Table
Nair is known for her consumer-first mindset and innovation-led approach. She spearheaded award-winning campaigns like “Kan Khajura Tesan”, a mobile marketing initiative for rural India that earned global recognition at Cannes in 2014.
Her leadership focus has consistently been on sustainable growth, digital transformation, and balancing premiumisation with affordability, in tune with consumer trends across urban and rural India.
A Timely Leadership Change
Nair takes charge amid a slowing urban consumer demand and a shift toward smaller, nimble competition. The FMCG sector is adapting to digital disruption, sustainability concerns, and evolving socio-economic dynamics. With her global experience and domestic insight, Nair is well placed to steer HUL through this transitional phase.
Rohit Jawa’s ASPIRE strategy has already set the stage by restructuring the portfolio and enhancing premium and rural engagement. Nair is expected to build on this momentum, reinforcing HUL’s market leadership across key categories like home care, beauty, and personal care.
Looking Ahead
Starting August 1, Nair will also join HUL’s Board, subject to regulatory approvals, while continuing as part of the Unilever Leadership Executive.
Her elevation coincides with HUL’s FY25 milestones: a turnover of ₹61,469 crore and net profit of ₹10,644 crore, with a market cap of around ₹5.66 lakh crore.
For HUL, the coming years under Nair’s leadership could define the next growth arc, combining innovation, sustainability, digital reach, and inclusive leadership.
About Hindustan Unilever
HUL is India’s leading FMCG company, present for over nine decades. It is known for developing local and global leadership talent, aligning brand-building with purpose-driven initiatives. The company has a strong reputation for sustainability and social outreach, especially through programs like water conservation and women entrepreneur empowerment, earning global recognition.
Industry Reactions and Expectations
Industry leaders and market analysts have welcomed Priya Nair’s appointment with enthusiasm. Many see her promotion as a strong signal toward gender-inclusive leadership in India’s top corporate boardrooms. FMCG experts believe Nair’s experience across both Indian and international markets will be invaluable as HUL tackles emerging challenges like inflation, digitisation of retail, and evolving consumer behaviour.
“Priya understands the pulse of the Indian consumer better than anyone. Her strategic clarity and brand-building strength will take HUL to new heights,” said a former Unilever India executive, speaking anonymously.
Investor sentiment around the announcement has also been positive, with HUL’s stock showing mild gains on the BSE following the news. Analysts are now closely watching how she plans to grow HUL’s rural footprint, strengthen digital commerce, and drive innovation in health and wellness segments.
This leadership change also aligns with Unilever’s broader efforts to foster diversity and future-ready leadership across its global operations.
NextWhatBusiness.com will continue to follow Nair’s journey closely as she charts a historic first under her tenure at HUL.
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