Unilever has signaled a reset in its India playbook, appointing Priya Nair as managing director and chief executive of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), marking the first time a woman will lead India’s largest consumer goods maker. The decision, according to Unilever’s global chief executive Fernando Fernandez, stems from the need to reignite sales momentum in a market that accounts for nearly 14% of the multinational’s global turnover.
Speaking at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference, Fernandez underlined that the leadership overhaul was aimed at making India a co-anchor of growth alongside the United States. “Priya brings global perspective and depth of experience, which is critical for HUL at this juncture. Companies of HUL’s scale risk becoming inward-looking, but the India of tomorrow requires leadership that thinks beyond legacy models,” he said.
Nair, who assumed charge on August 1, succeeded Rohit Jawa, whose two-year term was the shortest in HUL’s history. Alongside her elevation, HUL has also inducted senior executives from Britannia and Hero MotoCorp to head its foods and finance divisions.
India remains Unilever’s second-largest market after the US, with HUL controlling over 50% share in hair care, skincare, dishwashing, and packaged foods, and around 45% in laundry. The company is betting that India’s projected 5-6% real GDP growth will be mirrored in its own volume expansion over time.
HUL’s revenue rose 5% in the June quarter, but growth has hovered between flat and 4% for nearly two years, reflecting sluggish consumer demand. To diversify, HUL has bought high-growth startups such as skincare label Minimalist and nutraceuticals brand Oziva, both expected to cross €100 million in combined revenues this year.
With reach across 9 million retail outlets, including 3 million directly served, and a digital ordering app, Shikhar, HUL is banking on a mix of scale, technology, and new categories to hold its dominance as competition intensifies from agile new-age brands.
