Priya Nair Becomes First Woman to Lead Hindustan Unilever as MD & CEO

Hindustan Unilever has appointed Priya Nair as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, making her the first woman to lead one of India’s most iconic consumer businesses.

Nair’s appointment marks a significant milestone in her nearly three-decade career with Unilever, during which she has held leadership roles spanning consumer insights, brand building, global marketing and business transformation.

Most recently, Nair led Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing business across more than 20 markets, bringing experience in managing global portfolios and driving growth across diverse consumer markets.

Over the course of her career, she has moved from consumer insights into senior business leadership, building expertise across some of the company’s major brands and global businesses. Her leadership experience combines consumer understanding with brand building, international market exposure and transformation capabilities.

Her appointment also represents a broader milestone for corporate leadership in India, with Nair becoming the first woman to occupy the top leadership position at Hindustan Unilever.

The move comes as HUL continues to navigate changing consumer preferences, evolving retail channels and the growing importance of innovation and brand-led growth in India's fast changing consumer market.

Nair’s elevation places her at the helm of a company with a portfolio spanning beauty and personal care, home care, foods and other consumer categories, as she takes on the responsibility of steering HUL through its next phase of growth.