Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has named Priya Nair Jawa, 53, as its new managing director and CEO effective August 1, succeeding Rohit Jawa, who will leave from the company after a two-year stint in India, the shortest tenure for any MD at the consumer goods firm.
At present, Nair is the president of beauty and well-being business at Unilever and will become the first woman CEO at HUL.
“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 Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman at HUL.
Nair joined HUL in 1995 and held several sales and marketing roles across home care, beauty & wellbeing, and personal care businesses. An MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Nair joined HUL as a management trainee in the consumer insights team. Before moving to the parent company, she led both home care and beauty and personal care portfolios over the past decade at HUL. She had led the launch of HUL’s rural mobile marketing initiative, ‘Kan Khajura Tesan’, which received three Gold Lion awards at the 2014 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Jawa had a 37-year career in Unilever, including executive vice president North Asia and Chair Unilever China and Philippines. During Jawa's tenure of over two years in India, the company delivered just 2% sales growth amid slowdown in broader consumer market and intensifying competition from smaller new age players. HUL said Jawa introduced the ‘aspire’ strategy to transform portfolio and channels towards high-growth demand spaces. The company also acquired direct to consumer brands Minimalist and Oziva to enter niche sub-segments in beauty and wellbeing.
"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," Paranjpe added.
At present, Nair is the president of beauty and well-being business at Unilever and will become the first woman CEO at HUL.
“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 Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman at HUL.
Nair joined HUL in 1995 and held several sales and marketing roles across home care, beauty & wellbeing, and personal care businesses. An MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Nair joined HUL as a management trainee in the consumer insights team. Before moving to the parent company, she led both home care and beauty and personal care portfolios over the past decade at HUL. She had led the launch of HUL’s rural mobile marketing initiative, ‘Kan Khajura Tesan’, which received three Gold Lion awards at the 2014 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Jawa had a 37-year career in Unilever, including executive vice president North Asia and Chair Unilever China and Philippines. During Jawa's tenure of over two years in India, the company delivered just 2% sales growth amid slowdown in broader consumer market and intensifying competition from smaller new age players. HUL said Jawa introduced the ‘aspire’ strategy to transform portfolio and channels towards high-growth demand spaces. The company also acquired direct to consumer brands Minimalist and Oziva to enter niche sub-segments in beauty and wellbeing.
"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," Paranjpe added.
