Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Two years after speculation first arose about her candidacy, Priya Nair is set to take over as the CEO and MD of Hindustan Unilever from August 1, 2025—becoming the first woman to ever hold the top post in the company’s history.

Nair will assume the role as Rohit Jawa steps down, effective July 31, according to the official press release by Hindustan Unilever.

With over 30 years of experience, Nair has consistently built powerful brands that deeply connect with consumers. A high-performing business leader, she has a proven track record of shaping categories, reviving underperforming businesses, and leading diverse, cross-functional teams to deliver strong results.

A graduate of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Priya Nair started her career at HUL in the consumer insights division. Her journey within the company saw her take on key roles across iconic brands such as Dove, Rin, and Comfort. With time, she rose to lead two of the company’s most significant verticals — Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care, shaping their strategic direction and growth in the Indian market.

Priya Nair’s career took on an international dimension in 2022 when she relocated to London to serve as the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing division. One of her standout contributions was the creation of ‘Kan Khajura Tesan,’ an innovative mobile-based campaign designed to reach rural audiences. The initiative gained international acclaim, bagging three Gold Lions at Cannes in 2014.

A year later, in 2023, she became a part of the Unilever Leadership Executive, working closely with top leaders including Nitin Paranjpe and Rohit Jawa.

During her time heading the Home Care division, she was instrumental in revitalising the portfolio—driving a shift towards sustainability and building a business equipped for the future. Her leadership has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and the ability to drive large-scale transformation.

Most recently based in London, Priya Nair has been serving as the President of Unilever’s global Beauty & Wellbeing division since 2024. Prior to that, she held the role of Global Chief Marketing Officer (from July 2022 to January 2024), where she led key initiatives across revenue growth, brand equity enhancement, innovation strategy, and digital marketing transformation.

In India, she has held several influential positions, including serving as an Independent Director, on the board of a publicly listed company. She has also been a board member of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), collaborated with various government bodies on public-private initiatives, and actively contributed to industry platforms such as the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) India.

Over the years, she has been consistently recognised as one of India’s most influential women in business, a testament to her vision, leadership, and impact. With her return to India, she now steps into the top role at HUL, steering the company through a pivotal phase of evolution and growth.