Priya Nair’s story starts in 1995 when she joined Hindustan Unilever as a young manager, fresh out of Sydenham College and Symbiosis Institute of Business Management. From day one, she plunged into sales and marketing for everyday brands that reached millions. Early stints with Dove, Rin and Comfort taught her one thing — consumer brands only win if they listen.
She climbed steadily. By 2012, she was appointed to HUL’s Management Board to lead Beauty & Personal Care. In 2014, she took charge of Home Care for South Asia, reshaping categories and tightening costs to keep the business future-ready.
From India to the world
In 2022, she took a big leap — leaving her home base to become Global Chief Marketing Officer for Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing business. That meant owning the growth, equity and innovation pipeline for hair care, skincare, prestige beauty and health supplements worldwide. By 2024, she was named Business Group President for Beauty & Wellbeing, handling a €13 billion portfolio across 20 markets.
Unilever’s talent factory is known to spot leaders who can scale brands globally while staying local at heart. Priya is cut from that cloth.
Also Read: Priya Nair named Hindustan Unilever MD & CEO
Why this move matters now
Come 1 August 2025, she’ll take over as MD & CEO of HUL, succeeding Rohit Jawa, who exits after delivering what the company called “volume-led competitive growth” through his ‘ASPIRE’ strategy. Nitin Paranjpe, HUL’s Chairman, summed up the transition well: “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.”
This isn’t just about another promotion. Nair’s appointment signals a bigger shift — more women are breaking into India’s highest corporate ranks. She’ll be HUL’s first woman MD & CEO.
Here’s the thing about Priya Nair: she’s clear about what drives her. In 2022, she told Storyboard18, “I have learnt that if you are fortunate enough to discover your purpose, you will have the strength to manage all volatility and uncertainty.” For her, learning never stops. “Learning agility is critical in management, as we see the world change at an increasing speed,” she said.
When most people would rest on nearly three decades of experience, she enrolled at Harvard for an Executive Leadership Program, inspired by her mother to keep pushing.
Who is Priya Nair beyond the Boardroom
Today, Priya lives in London with her husband and daughter. She’s served as an Independent Director on Indian company boards, sat on ASCI, and worked closely with industry bodies and government panels. Recognition? She’s been counted among India’s most influential businesswomen for years — not because she talks a good game, but because she delivers.
Career at a glance
Priya Nair: Education
B.Com, Sydenham College. MBA in Marketing, Symbiosis Pune. Executive Leadership Programme, Harvard.
HUL sits in the crosshairs of change — new-age local competitors, eco-conscious young shoppers, and digital disruption at every step. Priya’s real test will be balancing the scale of a giant with the agility of a start-up.
What this really means is simple: the brands you see in millions of homes need to feel personal, purposeful and planet-friendly. Nair’s instinct for storytelling, local nuance and future-facing growth might just be what HUL needs right now.
So, who is Priya Nair?
A leader who built brands you know, guided by purpose, still hungry to learn. Now she gets to shape what you buy, how you buy it, and maybe even why.
She climbed steadily. By 2012, she was appointed to HUL’s Management Board to lead Beauty & Personal Care. In 2014, she took charge of Home Care for South Asia, reshaping categories and tightening costs to keep the business future-ready.
From India to the world
In 2022, she took a big leap — leaving her home base to become Global Chief Marketing Officer for Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing business. That meant owning the growth, equity and innovation pipeline for hair care, skincare, prestige beauty and health supplements worldwide. By 2024, she was named Business Group President for Beauty & Wellbeing, handling a €13 billion portfolio across 20 markets.
Unilever’s talent factory is known to spot leaders who can scale brands globally while staying local at heart. Priya is cut from that cloth.
Also Read: Priya Nair named Hindustan Unilever MD & CEO
Why this move matters now
Come 1 August 2025, she’ll take over as MD & CEO of HUL, succeeding Rohit Jawa, who exits after delivering what the company called “volume-led competitive growth” through his ‘ASPIRE’ strategy. Nitin Paranjpe, HUL’s Chairman, summed up the transition well: “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.”
This isn’t just about another promotion. Nair’s appointment signals a bigger shift — more women are breaking into India’s highest corporate ranks. She’ll be HUL’s first woman MD & CEO.
Here’s the thing about Priya Nair: she’s clear about what drives her. In 2022, she told Storyboard18, “I have learnt that if you are fortunate enough to discover your purpose, you will have the strength to manage all volatility and uncertainty.” For her, learning never stops. “Learning agility is critical in management, as we see the world change at an increasing speed,” she said.
When most people would rest on nearly three decades of experience, she enrolled at Harvard for an Executive Leadership Program, inspired by her mother to keep pushing.
Who is Priya Nair beyond the Boardroom
Today, Priya lives in London with her husband and daughter. She’s served as an Independent Director on Indian company boards, sat on ASCI, and worked closely with industry bodies and government panels. Recognition? She’s been counted among India’s most influential businesswomen for years — not because she talks a good game, but because she delivers.
Career at a glance
- 1995–2012: Sales & marketing roles, brands like Dove, Rin, Comfort
- 2012: HUL Management Board, Beauty & Personal Care
- 2014–2020: Executive Director, Home Care, South Asia
- 2020–2022: Executive Director, Beauty & Personal Care, HUL
- 2022: Global CMO, Beauty & Wellbeing, Unilever
- 2024: Business Group President, Beauty & Wellbeing, Unilever
- 2025: MD & CEO, Hindustan Unilever
Priya Nair: Education
B.Com, Sydenham College. MBA in Marketing, Symbiosis Pune. Executive Leadership Programme, Harvard.
HUL sits in the crosshairs of change — new-age local competitors, eco-conscious young shoppers, and digital disruption at every step. Priya’s real test will be balancing the scale of a giant with the agility of a start-up.
What this really means is simple: the brands you see in millions of homes need to feel personal, purposeful and planet-friendly. Nair’s instinct for storytelling, local nuance and future-facing growth might just be what HUL needs right now.
So, who is Priya Nair?
A leader who built brands you know, guided by purpose, still hungry to learn. Now she gets to shape what you buy, how you buy it, and maybe even why.
You may also like
Advocates' Forum for Social Justice demands OBC, SC/ST representation in SC and HC collegiums
Mumbai News: Tata Trusts Launches 'Khud Se Jeet' Campaign To Break Silence Around Cervical Cancer, Urges Early Screening
ED Raids Congress MLA Subba Reddy's Properties In Bengaluru & Chikkaballapur Over FEMA Violations
Magnets, missiles and mines: How MP Materials became the Pentagon's secret rare earths weapon for next-gen arms
BREAKING: Chelsea given huge Moises Caicedo injury boost before Club World Cup final vs PSG
