Hindustan Unilever to Get IFirst Woman CEO Priya Nair as Rohit Jawa Steps Down

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), the FMCG giant, has announced that Priya Nair, currently President, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of HUL, effective August 1, 2025. This follows the decision of current CEO Rohit Jawa to step down after a two-year tenure by the end of this month.

In his resignation , Jawa said he wishes to pursue the next chapter in his personal and professional journey. He assumed the CEO role in 2023.

“On behalf of the Board of HUL, I would like to thank Rohit for leading the business through tough market conditions and strengthening its foundations for success. The company took decisive actions to sharpen the portfolio and further stepped up its market leadership over the last two years. I wish him the very best for the next chapter in his life,” said Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman of HUL.

The company added that under Jawa's leadership, HUL delivered volume-led competitive growth over the past two years.

First Woman CEO

Priya Nair will become the first woman to take over as HUL's CEO and MD, subject to necessary approvals. She will continue to be a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE).

Nair joined HUL in 1995 and has held several leadership roles in sales and marketing across Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care businesses. She served as Executive Director, Home Care from 2014 to 2020, and later as Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care from 2020 to 2022.

She was subsequently appointed as the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever. Since 2023, she has led Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing division as President—one of the company’s fastest-growing businesses.

“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," said Paranjpe.