Priya Nair Set to Become HUL’s First Female CEO & MD Effective 1 August 2025.

Appointment

Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), India’s largest FMCG company, has announced the appointment of Priya Nair as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 August 2025, making her the first woman to lead the company in its 92-year history. She will succeed Rohit Jawa, who is stepping down on 31 July 2025 after a two-year tenure—one of the shortest in the company's top leadership.


      - Throughout her nearly 30-year career at Unilever and HUL, Priya Nair has held key leadership roles, including Executive Director – Home Care (2014–2020), Executive Director – Beauty & Personal Care (2020–2022), and Global Chief Marketing Officer, Beauty & Wellbeing (2023).

      - Since January 2024, she has been President of the Beauty & Wellbeing division at Unilever, driving transformation across India and global markets.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Board Chairman Nitin Paranjpe lauded her appointment, describing Nair as “a globally‑respected marketer with deep consumer insight” and expressing confidence in her ability to lead HUL through its next growth phase.

      (ii) This leadership change reflects HUL’s continued emphasis on internal talent, innovation, and gender diversity at the highest levels.

(iii) Priya Nair’s elevation is a major milestone in breaking the glass ceiling in India Inc., where women occupy less than 20% of C‑suite roles.

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