Who is Priya Nair, Hindustan Unilever’s first woman MD & CEO?

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on Thursday announced the appointment of Priya Nair as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director after Rohit Jawa decided to step down from the position to "pursue the next chapter" in his "personal and professional journey".

Nair, currently President, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, will take over the role effective August 1, 2025, marking the first time that the company will be led by a woman.

She will join the HUL Board, subject to necessary approvals, and continue as a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Welcoming Priya Nair back to India and to HUL, Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman, HUL, said, “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.”

Who is Priya Nair?

A commerce graduate from Sydenham College and an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Nair has also completed executive education at Harvard Business School.

Nair, recognised as one of India’s most influential businesswomen, began her career with HUL in 1995 in consumer insights and went on to hold several sales and marketing roles across Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care businesses.

Over nearly three decades at Unilever, she has built a reputation as a globally respected business leader known for brand building, digital commerce, and purpose-led innovation.

Between 2014 and 2020, she served as Executive Director, Home Care, HUL, where she turned around the business by driving sustainability, value innovation, and cost efficiencies, leading to margin improvement, volume recovery, and premium portfolio growth.

She later became Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care, HUL, from 2020 to 2022.

Subsequently, Nair was appointed Global Chief Marketing Officer, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, before becoming President of the division in 2023. In this role, she oversaw a €13 billion portfolio including Hair Care, Skin Care, Prestige Beauty, and Health & Wellbeing brands across more than 20 markets.

She is credited with architecting social-first marketing strategies, scaling influencer-led innovation, and launching global campaigns that repositioned Unilever’s beauty portfolio for younger, digitally native consumers, the company said.