Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has appointed Priya Nair as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director — the first woman to hold this position in the company’s 92-year history. She will take over from Rohit Jawa, who is set to step down on July 31, 2025. Nair’s appointment will be effective from August 1, 2025.
With this appointment, Priya Nair becomes the first woman to lead Hindustan Unilever Ltd as CEO and MD. She will also join the HUL Board, subject to necessary approvals, and will continue serving as a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE).
Priya Nair currently holds the position of President, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, leading one of the company’s fastest-growing global divisions.
30 Years at Unilever: Priya Nair’s Remarkable Rise to the Top
Priya Nair, who is set to become the first woman CEO and MD of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), began her journey with the company in 1995. Starting from the ground level, she held several key leadership positions over the years across home care, beauty, and personal care segments. Her early responsibilities included roles as Consumer Insights Manager and Brand Manager for major brands like Dove, Rin, and Comfort.
She went on to lead marketing for the laundry category and later handled oral care, deodorants, and customer development. Nair also served as General Manager for Customer Development in HUL’s western region before moving on to senior leadership roles — first as Executive Director and CCVP for Homecare, followed by a similar role in Beauty & Personal Care for South Asia.
Her success in India paved the way for her global rise. In 2022, she was appointed as the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing unit, and in 2023, she was elevated to President of the division — one of the company’s fastest-growing global businesses.
Educational Background
Priya Nair holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree in Accounts & Statistics from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics (1987–1992). She later earned an MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune (1992–1994), and also completed an executive programme in Business Administration and Management from Harvard Business School.
Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman of Hindustan Unilever, lauded her contributions: “Priya has had an outstanding career in HUL and Unilever. 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,” he said in a company statement.
Nair will succeed Rohit Jawa, who has served as CEO and MD of HUL since 2023. Under his leadership, the company saw volume-led growth and steered through a tough market environment marked by subdued urban demand and a slow recovery in discretionary categories.
HUL noted in its exchange filing that Jawa is stepping down to explore new opportunities in his personal and professional life.
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