Hindustan Unilever appoints Priya Nair as CEO and MD

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has announced the appointment of Priya Nair, currently President, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, as the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of HUL, effective August 1, 2025. Nair will also join the HUL Board, subject to regulatory approvals, and continue to be part of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE).

Nair succeeds Rohit Jawa, who will step down on 31st July 2025. Jawa took over as CEO and MD of HUL in 2023. 

She joined HUL in 1995 and rose through the ranks with stints in sales and marketing across Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care. 

From 2014 to 2020, she served as Executive Director, Home Care, followed by her role as Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care from 2020 to 2022. She was elevated as Global Chief Marketing Officer, Beauty & Wellbeing, where she managed brand equity, global revenues, innovation pipelines, and digital-first strategies. In 2023, she was appointed President of Beauty & Wellbeing, one of Unilever’s fastest-growing verticals with a portfolio valued at €12 billion, covering hair care, skin care, prestige beauty, and health supplements.

Known for her instinctive grasp of consumer behaviour and brand storytelling, Nair has played a crucial role in reviving underperforming categories, reshaping product portfolios, and leading cost and sustainability initiatives. Her leadership is widely credited with building resilient, future-ready brands that are both locally relevant and globally scalable.

Her return to HUL comes at a time when the company is navigating increased competition from nimble, local players and shifting consumer dynamics in both rural and urban India. With her global exposure and deep local experience, Nair is well-positioned to steer HUL through its next phase of growth in a market that is both price-sensitive and aspirational.

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