Unilever is doubling down on India and the United States, its two biggest markets, in a move aimed at reigniting growth and staying ahead of global headwinds. The company’s CEO, Fernando Fernandez, recently confirmed that these countries will receive a larger share of investment, resources, and strategic attention, as Unilever looks to grow volumes faster than the company average.
India currently makes up around 12% of Unilever’s total global sales, placing it just behind the US in importance. But after a couple of years of slowing momentum—largely because rising prices forced Indian households to cut back—Unilever is ready to hit refresh.
Steering this new phase of growth in India is Priya Nair, who steps in as the new CEO of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), the company’s India arm. Her appointment marks a significant change in leadership, following a brief tenure by her predecessor, Rohit Jawa.
“Momentum is building in India where we have recently appointed a new head of the business, Priya Nair, who takes over after having successfully led our global beauty and wellbeing business,” said Fernandez during the company’s latest earnings call.
He praised Nair’s blend of local and global experience, describing her as someone who deeply understands the Indian market while also having a strong grasp on international consumer trends. “Priya combines a deep understanding of our home and personal care business in India that she successfully ran for many years with the knowledge of international markets that is necessary to keep our portfolio in tune with the significant consumer needs and channel shifts already visible in the market.”
Nair’s leadership comes at a pivotal moment. Globally, Unilever is undergoing a major reset. The sudden exit of former CEO Hein Schumacher earlier this year signaled urgency at the top, and Fernandez—then the CFO—was quickly appointed to drive a turnaround.
Meanwhile, India’s standing within Unilever has only grown stronger. As the Chinese market stumbles, multinational firms have turned their gaze back to India. And Unilever is no exception. The company believes India offers a unique mix of resilience, demand potential, and emerging retail channels that make it a long-term growth engine.
Fernandez is particularly optimistic about recent shifts in the Indian market, especially with the rise of online and rapid delivery platforms. He noted that Unilever is gaining share and expanding its reach through newer, faster channels. “If you actually see the market growth in the last 12 weeks, we see an improvement. There’s also been a lot of work which has happened in terms of the portfolio transformation, where we are actually investing behind the market makers beyond the core portfolio,” said Srinivas Phatak, Unilever’s acting CFO. “When we add up all of this, we’ve started to see a step up in volume.”
Phatak added that e-commerce sales have been growing in double digits and that quick commerce has become a game changer, doubling Unilever’s business in that space over the past year.
Unilever’s approach isn’t just about pushing existing products harder. The company has been putting money into transforming its portfolio—investing in newer categories, future-forward formats, and products that are more aligned with changing lifestyles and consumption patterns in India.
“With the acceleration we’re seeing, we feel quite confident and comfortable with the India growth trajectory; we will expect this to do well,” Phatak said.
As 2025 enters its second half, Unilever appears set on making India not just a major market in terms of numbers, but a strategic hub for innovation and expansion. And with Priya Nair now at the helm, the company is hoping to blend deep local insights with global ambitions—putting India front and center in Unilever’s next chapter.
