Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is restructuring its beauty and personal care (BPC) division, dividing it into distinct entities focused on beauty and well-being (B&W) and personal care (PC).
The BPC division’s shift to B&W and PC will take effect from April 1, 2024. With sales of INR 5,809 crore, BPC contributed 38% to the company’s September quarter numbers – higher than home care and foods & refreshment.
Two executive directors, Harman Dhillon (43) for B&W and Kartik Chandrasekhar (48) for PC, will lead the divisions, becoming members of the HUL Management Committee (MC) starting April 1, 2024. Madhusudhan Rao, the current executive director for B&W and PC, has opted for retirement from the company.
Dhillon, who joined HUL in 2006, is currently the Head of Skincare for India. Between 2015 and 2016, she served as the Global Brand Director for the ‘TRESemme’ business, based in London. On the other hand, Chandrasekhar is presently the Global Vice President and Head of Oral Care & Skin Cleansing for D&E markets.
Rohit Jawa, CEO and MD, HUL, said, “HUL has a track record of strong performance. As we embark on our next phase of growth and transformation, we will combine our scale and discipline with innovation and agility to serve our consumers even better and build a future-fit business. BPC continues to be a source of value creation for us. However, the business model, innovation rhythm and competitive landscape for both B&W and PC are diverging. The transition will allow us to bring more focus, and leverage our strong portfolio in both businesses. I am glad to have seasoned business leaders like Harman and Kartik to lead B&W and PC, respectively.”
There has been growing focus on B&W and PC given the growth opportunities and consumer shifts in these categories globally.