Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has appointed Priya Nair as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, effective August 1, 2025, making her the first woman to lead the company in its 92-year history.
Priya will succeed Rohit Jawa, who steps down on July 31 to pursue the next chapter in his personal and professional journey.
She will also join the HUL Board, subject to necessary approvals, and continue as a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE).
Priya Nair’s Journey: Three Decades of Leadership
CEO and MD Priya Nair joined HUL in 1995 and has held several key roles across sales, marketing, and brand management.
Her early career included work on iconic brands such as Dove, Rin, and Comfort, followed by leadership roles in Home Care, Beauty & Personal Care, and Customer Development.
Notable milestones in her career include:
- Executive Director, Home Care (2014–2020)
- Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care (2020–2022)
- Global Chief Marketing Officer, Beauty & Wellbeing (2022)
- President, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever (2023–present)
Her current role oversees a €13 billion portfolio across more than 20 countries, making it one of Unilever’s fastest-growing divisions.
Education and Global Influence
Priya holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Sydenham College, an MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, and has completed a management program at Harvard Business School.
She is also recognized among India’s most influential women in business, having served as:
- An Independent Director on a publicly listed Indian company
- A board member of ASCI
- A contributor to public-private partnerships and industry forums like MMA India
Transition from Hindustan Unilever Current CEO Rohit Jawa
Rohit Jawa, the outgoing CEO of HUL, led the company since 2023.
During his tenure, he introduced the ASPIRE strategy, which emphasized portfolio transformation and high-growth demand spaces.
Under his leadership, HUL delivered volume-led competitive growth and strengthened its market leadership despite challenging conditions.
Chairman Nitin Paranjpe praised both leaders, stating, “Priya has had an outstanding career in HUL and Unilever.”
Nitin added, “I am certain that with her deep understanding of the Indian market and excellent track record, Priya will take HUL to the next level of performance”.
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