Priya Nair, a name well-known within Unilever circles, is now set to make corporate history. Come August 1, 2025, she will become the first woman CEO and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) — India’s largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company.
Currently based in London, Nair heads the Beauty & Wellbeing division globally at Unilever, one of the company’s fastest growing businesses. Her appointment marks a significant moment, not just for HUL, but for Indian industry where top leadership still skews heavily male.
Having obtained her B.Com from Sydenham College, she has further pursued her Executive Leadership Programme at Harvard. She currently lives with her husband and daughter in London; she has worked as an Independent Director on Indian company boards. The member has also been associated with industry bodies such as ASCI and several government panels.
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She has been and continued to be counted as one of the most influential businesswomen in India due to her strategic foresight, market intuition, and consistent execution.
A 30-year journey that started with sales
Priya Nair joined HUL in 1995, right after her MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute, Pune. Starting in sales and brand management roles, she went on to build and scale some of the most iconic HUL brands — from Dove and Rin to Comfort. She was also the brain behind several award-winning purpose-led marketing campaigns.
Over the decades, her roles have spanned across Home Care, Personal Care, and Beauty & Wellbeing — both in India and globally.
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Career timeline at a glance
1995–2012: Brand & marketing roles in India – Rin, Dove, Comfort
2012: Elevated to HUL Management Board
2014–2020: Executive Director, Home Care, HUL
2020–2022: Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care, HUL
2022: Appointed Global CMO, Beauty & Wellbeing, Unilever
2023–present: President, Beauty & Wellbeing, Unilever
2025: Appointed CEO & MD, HUL
