Kerala’s Priya Nair to become first woman CEO of Hindustan Unilever

New Delhi: Priya Nair, a Malayali business leader and veteran at Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), is set to make history as the first woman to be appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of India’s largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company. Her appointment will be effective from August 1, 2025, the company announced on Thursday.

Currently serving as the President of Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, Nair has been appointed for a five-year term. She will take over the reins from Rohit Jawa, who will step down on July 31, 2025, after a two-year stint as CEO and MD to pursue the next phase of his personal and professional life.

Nair will also join the HUL Board, subject to necessary approvals, and will remain a part of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE).

“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,” said HUL Chairman Nitin Paranjpe.

A native of Palakkad, Kerala, Nair completed her MBA from Symbiosis Institute, Pune, and began her journey with HUL in 1995. Over the past three decades, she has held key positions across sales and marketing in home care, personal care, and beauty & wellbeing categories.

She previously served as Executive Director, Home Care (2014–2020), and later as Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care (2020–2022). Nair then rose to become Global Chief Marketing Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, eventually taking charge as President of the division in 2023, one of the company’s fastest-growing businesses.

Her work has also earned her a place on Forbes’ 2016 list of Most Powerful Business Women.

PTI inputs