Hindustan Unilever appoints Koteshwar L.N. as Oziva CEO
HUL has named Koteshwar L.N. as CEO of Oziva as it strengthens its health and wellbeing portfolio following the brand’s full acquisition.
INDIA – Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has appointed Koteshwar L.N. as the new Chief Executive Officer of Oziva, reinforcing its focus on expanding its presence in India’s rapidly growing health and wellness nutrition market.
The appointment follows HUL’s acquisition of the remaining 49 per cent stake in Zywie Ventures earlier this year, making Oziva a wholly owned subsidiary of the FMCG company.
The move forms part of HUL’s broader strategy to strengthen its health and wellbeing business as consumer demand for nutrition, functional foods and preventive healthcare products continues to grow.
According to media reports, Koteshwar will report to Harman Dhillon, Executive Director, Beauty & Wellbeing at HUL. In addition to leading Oziva, he will oversee the company’s broader wellness portfolio, including Liquid I.V., as HUL works to build an integrated health and nutrition business.
Koteshwar brings more than 20 years of experience across the fast-moving consumer goods, beverages and e-commerce sectors.
Before joining HUL, he held senior business and brand leadership positions at Marico and also worked with Flipkart and The Coca-Cola Company, where he contributed to building and scaling consumer brands across multiple categories.
The leadership appointment comes as competition intensifies in India’s wellness nutrition sector, where established FMCG companies and digital-first brands are expanding their offerings in protein supplements, plant-based nutrition, hydration beverages and preventive health products.
HUL first invested in Oziva in 2023 after acquiring a 51 per cent stake in Zywie Ventures. Since then, the brand has recorded significant growth.
According to HUL’s annual report, Oziva generated nearly Rs 480 crore in revenue while achieving a compound annual growth rate of almost 130 per cent during the two years following the investment.
The company further strengthened its position in February 2026 by acquiring the remaining 49 per cent stake in Zywie Ventures for Rs 824 crore, completing the full acquisition of the wellness brand.
At the time of the acquisition, HUL Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Priya Nair described health and wellbeing as “a strategic growth vector,” highlighting the company’s commitment to accelerating expansion within the category.
With Oziva now fully integrated into its portfolio and new leadership in place, HUL continues to strengthen its presence in India’s evolving wellness market as consumers increasingly seek nutrition-focused products and preventive health solutions.
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