Unilever names Hanny van Amerongen-van Enschot as Chief R&D Officer for Personal Care Unit
That earlier experience she had gives her direct exposure to the category she now helps steer at a global level.
UK – Unilever has appointed Hanny van Amerongen-van Enschot as Chief Research & Development Officer for its Personal Care business, based at the company’s London headquarters.
The move brings a long-serving Unilever R&D leader back into Personal Care to oversee research and innovation across one of the group’s biggest beauty and personal care divisions.
Van Amerongen-van Enschot took up the role in July 2026 after nearly 15 years with Unilever. Before this appointment, she was Vice President R&D Global Innovation Foods and Unilever Food Solutions, and her career at the company has spanned senior roles in food, digital transformation, packaging, product development and personal care.
Her return to Personal Care is notable because she previously led Personal Care R&D in Europe, with a focus on skin care and skin cleansing.
In announcing the appointment, Van Amerongen-van Enschot said she had already started visiting Unilever’s global R&D centres and pointed to the company’s scientific capabilities, innovation pipeline and research talent.
The appointment brings an experienced internal executive back to Personal Care as the company continues to strengthen research and innovation across one of its core beauty and personal care businesses.
This appointment comes amid Unilever’s continued effort to sharpen its Personal Care strategy around innovation, premiumisation and faster product development.
The business has been leaning on science-led research, AI-enabled capabilities and digital manufacturing tools to improve how it develops, tests and brings products to market.
On the commercial side, Unilever has been focusing on “desire-led” growth, premium brand experiences and stronger digital commerce, with Dove and other power brands used as key growth drivers.
It has also highlighted expansion into premium and high-growth spaces, supported by launches such as whole-body deodorants and other innovative new products.
Operationally, the company has been modernising its R&D and manufacturing base so teams can work more efficiently and respond faster to market shifts.
That includes greater use of digital twins, a more digital-first innovation setup and collaboration with technology partners to support smarter production and product development.
In addition, Unilever is rolling out more than 40 new digital twins across its network over the next 18 months and partnering with Accenture to improve manufacturing efficiency.
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