HUL appoints Priya Nair as CEO & MD from Aug 1, first woman to lead company

Hindustan Unilever announces Priya Nair as its new CEO & MD, making her the first woman to lead the company. Nair brings over 20 years of experience in various leadership roles at Unilever

Priya Nair will be the new managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), succeeding Rohit Jawa, who would step down from the top post on July 31. Nair, 53, will be the first woman chief at the consumer major. 

After leading HUL for two years and having spent over 35 years in the company, Jawa, 59, would now “pursue the next chapter of his professional journey’’, according to a statement. 

Nair is the president of beauty & wellbeing at Unilever, London, and oversees a €13 billion  portfolio that includes hair care, skin care, prestige beauty and health and wellbeing brands across more than 20 countries. She will join the board at HUL, subject to necessary approvals, and continue to be a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive. 

 

She was one of the first few Indian-origin women to hold the position globally of Unilever Leadership Executive in 2022. 

Her Unilever journey started in 1995, with varied roles across sales and marketing, home care, beauty and wellbeing, among others, through the years.

 

“Her significant contributions led her to become the executive director, home care, HUL between 2014 and 2020, thereafter, the executive director, beauty & personal care, HUL from 2020 to 2022,” the company statement said. Subsequently, Nair became the global chief marketing officer, beauty and wellbeing at Unilever. “Since 2023, Priya has had a successful tenure as president of beauty and wellbeing, one of Unilever’s fastest growing businesses,” the statement noted. 

 

When Nair, a commerce graduate from Sydenham College with MBA from Pune’s Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, was the executive director- home care (South Asia), she turned around the business by driving sustainability, value innovation and cost efficiencies, the company said. 

 

Elaborating on Jawa’s tenure as CEO and MD, HUL said the company delivered volume-led competitive growth under his leadership. 

 

“He introduced the ‘ASPIRE’ strategy that is driving the business to transform portfolio and channels towards high-growth demand spaces. Rohit has held many notable roles across his successful 37-year career, including executive vice president North Asia, chair Unilever China, and chair of Unilever Philippines, two of the most important Unilever operations, in which he achieved notable success,” the statement said. 

Nitin Paranjpe, chairman at HUL, said: “On behalf of the board of HUL, I would like to thank Rohit for leading the business through tough market conditions and strengthening its foundations for success.’’ The company took decisive actions to sharpen the portfolio and further stepped up its market leadership over the last two years, he said. 

 

Nair has had an outstanding career in HUL and Unilever, Paranjpe said. “I’m certain that with her deep understanding of the Indian market and excellent track record, Priya will take HUL to the next level of performance,” he said.