Hindustan Unilever Limited  appoints Priya Nair as CEO and Managing Director

INDIA – Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has announced the appointment of Priya Nair as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, effective August 1, 2025. 

Priya Nair’s appointment marks a significant milestone in HUL’s history, as she becomes the first woman to lead the company as CEO and Managing Director. 

Nair will be inducted into the HUL Board, subject to necessary approvals, and will continue to be a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive. 

Priya Nair will succeed Rohit Jawa, who is set to step down on July 31 after serving as CEO and MD since 2023. 

During Jawa’s tenure of over two years, the company achieved volume-driven competitive growth under his leadership, with the introduction of the ‘ASPIRE’ strategy aimed at transforming the portfolio and channels to focus on high-growth demand areas.

Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman of HUL, expressed his confidence in Nair, stating, “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.”

Nair brings nearly three decades of experience with HUL and its parent company, Unilever, having joined the organization in 1995. 

Over the years, Nair has held various leadership roles across marketing and business strategy, most recently serving as President – Beauty & Wellbeing, where she successfully led Unilever’s global business in that segment.

Q4 FY25 financial highlights

Hindustan Unilever Limited recently announced its financial report for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, reporting a 3% Underlying Sales Growth (USG).

The company’s EBITDA margin stood at 23.1%, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 30 basis points. 

Meanwhile, both the Profit After Tax before exceptional items (PAT before) and the overall Profit After Tax (PAT) recorded a 4% increase.

Home Care recorded a 3% Underlying Sales Growth, driven by mid-single-digit unit volume growth (UVG), with negative price growth resulting from efforts to transfer commodity-related savings to consumers. 

The Beauty & Wellbeing segment achieved a 3% turnover growth, with hair care leading the way through double-digit volume increases across the Core, Future Core, and Market Makers segments. 

The Personal Care segment recorded 3% growth despite a slight decline in volume, with skin cleansing achieving low-single-digit growth due to calibrated pricing amidst commodity inflation.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.