Who is Priya Nair - the first-ever female CEO and MD of HUL?
Priya Nair, a seasoned marketer and Unilever global leader, has been appointed CEO and MD of Hindustan Unilever, marking a significant leadership milestone for India’s largest FMCG company.
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Priya Nair, who has spent nearly three decades crafting some of India's and the world's most successful consumer brands, will become the next managing director and chief executive officer of Hindustan Unilever, the company announced today. Her appointment marks a significant moment for the consumer goods giant, as it elevates a homegrown leader to its top post during a period of profound shifts in the consumption landscape. Storyboard18 was the first to report the appointment of Nair as HUL's new CEO and MD.
Nair, who in January 2024 was named business group president for beauty and wellbeing at Unilever, overseeing a €12 billion portfolio across hair care, skin care, prestige beauty and health supplements, returns to lead HUL at a time when the company is navigating rising competition from agile local players and evolving consumer preferences across urban and rural India.
Having joined HUL in 1995, Nair built her early career in sales and marketing across home, beauty and personal care, earning a reputation for sharp consumer insight and an instinct for brand storytelling that resonates across diverse markets. She has led turnarounds of underperforming categories, reshaped portfolios and driven cost transformation initiatives aimed at building a more sustainable, future-ready business.
Before taking up her global role at Unilever, Nair served as the global chief marketing officer for the beauty and wellbeing business, managing global revenue, brand equity, innovation pipelines and digital marketing initiatives. Her tenure at Unilever has highlighted her ability to scale brands while anchoring them in local relevance, a skill that will be critical as she steers HUL’s growth in a price-sensitive yet aspirational market.
“I have learnt that if you are fortunate enough to discover your purpose, you will have the strength to manage all volatility and uncertainty,” Nair told Storyboard18 in 2022. She added that continuous learning has been key to her leadership, describing learning agility as 'critical in management, as we see the world change at an increasing speed.'
Nair’s leadership comes at a time when HUL, India’s largest fast-moving consumer goods company, faces both macroeconomic headwinds and the need to capture demand in a rapidly digitizing consumer market. Industry observers will watch closely to see how she balances the company’s growth ambitions with profitability while navigating a landscape that is increasingly defined by environmental sustainability, digital disruption and the demands of young consumers.
Nair’s elevation to CEO makes her one of the few women to lead a company of HUL’s scale in India, signaling a shift in leadership pipelines at top corporate ranks. As she prepares to take the helm, Nair brings with her not just decades of brand-building experience, but also a belief in purpose-driven leadership that has guided her through one of the most successful careers in India’s consumer goods industry.
History
2025: CEO and MD, Hindustan Unilever
2024: Business Group President, Beauty & Wellbeing
2022: Global Chief Marketing Officer, Beauty & Wellbeing
2021: Executive Director & EVP South Asia – Beauty & Personal Care for Hindustan Unilever
2014: Executive Director South Asia – leading Home Care for Hindustan Unilever
2012: Appointed to Hindustan Unilever Management Board to lead Beauty & Personal Care
1995 — 2012: Sales and Marketing roles in Hindustan Unilever across Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care
Nair is married to entrepreneur Manmohan Nair, and they have a daughter, Mehak. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, reading, and is an avid film enthusiast.
