Latest news with #HindustanUnileverLtd
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala's corporate boardrooms still devoid of women at helm
KOCHI: 'From Kerala to the Corner Office! Priya Nair becomes the first woman MD & CEO of Hindustan Unilever Ltd in its 92-year history!' The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) was quick to celebrate the moment on social media. Hailing Priya as a Malayali achiever, the Facebook post proudly declared that she had 'just shattered the glass ceiling at India's largest FMCG company.' While Priya's elevation to the top job at HUL made headlines across India, it also cast a sharp light on Kerala's own corporate boardrooms, where women at helm remain glaringly absent. Take a look at the over 30 listed companies headquartered in Kerala — Federal Bank, South Indian Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank in the financial sector; Muthoot and Manappuram in gold finance; or Kitex Garments, V-Guard, Geojit Financial, Wonderla, and Kalyan Jewellers. Not one of them is headed by a woman.
Mint
17-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
HUL's Surf Excel liquid detergent eyes premium laundry segment with new product
New Delhi: Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), a market leader in India's fabric cleaning segment, has launched a new, premium washing liquid variant under its Surf Excel brand, targeting 5% users of liquid detergents to embrace its product. The move comes as Surf Excel, already HUL's largest brand, surpassed ₹ 10,000 crore in sales last fiscal year. The launch reinforces a growing trend of consumer preference for premium products within the laundry market, where liquid detergents are growing four times faster than the overall laundry cleaning market. The innovation, dubbed "Wonder Wash," was initially launched last year in the UK and China by HUL's British parent Unilever, citing a "seismic shift happening in the world of laundry." The product is designed specifically for short cycles and performs in just 15 minutes. Globally, the category is predicted to be worth €2 billion by 2026. In India, it will be sold as Surf Excel Matic Express. It sits at a price premium of 15% over a Surf Matic Liquid. In India, liquids currently account for 10% of the overall laundry cleaning market, which is still dominated by bars and detergent powders. 'Liquids are the fastest growing segment in this market, where the liquids growth is upwards of four times than the rest of the category. The contribution of liquids, overall in the market, is accelerating. But at this point it would be around 10%. Penetration in some South Indian states, which adopted liquids much earlier, is upwards of 60% in urban geographies—i.e. usage at least once a year,' Srinandan Sundaram, executive director, home care, HUL, said in an interview with Mint. Affluent consumers are increasingly purchasing more premium products due to expanded wardrobes and greater use of washing machines. Out of India's 304 million households, 68 million of these use washing machines, and of those, 17 million currently use washing liquids. 'We are seeing more consumers shortening their washing cycles,' Sundaram added. 'Our lens on this launch is to see heavy liquid users upgrading to get a superior experience -people who are using an Express cycle in the washing machine, and those who are also using liquid as the predominant wash solution. We don't intend this to be a short-term launch; this is a multi-year platform for us. We'd be very happy if we are able to get five percent of liquid users to try the new product,' he said. Home care is HUL's largest segment, with annual revenues of ₹ 22,972 crore in FY25, a 5% increase from the previous year. Besides Surf Excel, the company also sells Wheel and Rin laundry wash brands, Comfort fabric conditioner, Vim utensil cleaner, and Domex toilet and floor cleaners. In the March quarter, the home care segment reported mid-single-digit volume growth, led by its double-digit growing liquids portfolio. HUL has basically led the premiumization of the laundry portfolio through new formats and product upgrades, competing with P&G India, which sells the Ariel and Tide brands. In 2020, HUL launched Surf Excel Smart Shots (capsules), its most premium laundry product, and relaunched them earlier this year. According to a company presentation in November, household penetration of Surf Excel liquids quadrupled between calendar years 2019 and 2023, while the turnover tripled. Similarly, between 2023 and 2024, the penetration of Surf Excel Easy Wash Powders jumped four times, and turnover grew tenfold. Abneesh Roy, executive director, Nuvama Institutional Equities, said, 'HUL has seen big success in laundry and its premiumization. This launch will further help in that. With Priya Nair back at the helm as managing director, her past success in heading this business will also help.' Nair, the recently-appointed chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) of the company, previously served as executive director, home care, HUL, between 2014 and 2020. During her tenure, HUL prioritized building future formats in the home care segment, especially liquid detergents in laundry, with Surf Excel launching the first liquid detergent in the category, according to a July report by Motilal Oswal. Nair also focused on growing the fabric conditioner market in India. For the new launch, HUL has partnered with cricketer Jasprit Bumrah for an ad campaign. The product will be available in general trade and modern trade outlets across South India, and nationwide via e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms.
Mint
14-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
FMCG stock HUL declares board meeting date to announce Q1 results 2025. Details here
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has scheduled its board meeting on July 31, 2025, to announce financial results for the first quarter of the current fiscal year (Q1FY26), according to a regulatory filing submitted to the stock exchanges. The company stated, 'A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on Thursday, 31st July 2025, inter alia, to consider the Unaudited Standalone and Consolidated Financial Results for the quarter ended 30th June 2025, along with the Limited Review Reports of the Auditors.' HUL further confirmed that the financial results will be disclosed to the stock exchanges upon conclusion of the board meeting and subsequently published in the press, as mandated under SEBI's Listing Regulations. HUL's earnings for the March quarter (Q4FY25) showed signs of strain, with consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders falling 3.7 percent year-on-year to ₹ 2,464 crore, from ₹ 2,558 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Sequentially, net profit fell 17.4 percent. Total consolidated income for the quarter stood at ₹ 15,979 crore, marking a modest 3.5 percent growth compared to ₹ 15,441 crore in Q4FY24. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, revenue remained flat. HUL's EBITDA rose slightly to ₹ 3,466 crore from ₹ 3,435 crore last year, although EBITDA margins contracted by 30 basis points to 23.1 percent. The company attributed the margin pressure to adverse product mix and operational challenges. Despite the subdued quarterly performance, the board proposed a final dividend of ₹ 24 per share, adding to the interim dividend of ₹ 19 per share and a special dividend of ₹ 10 per share already paid in November 2024. Commenting on the annual performance, Rohit Jawa, CEO and Managing Director of HUL, said: 'In FY25, our turnover surpassed ₹ 60,000 crore with an Underlying Sales Growth of 2% and an EPS growth of 5%. While absolute volume tonnage grew in mid-single digits, it was partially offset by a negative mix. Looking ahead, we anticipate demand conditions to gradually improve in FY26.' Shares of HUL were trading at ₹ 2,520.10 ahead of the earnings announcement, which is still 17 percent below its 52-week high of ₹ 3,034.50, touched in September 2024. The stock hit its 52-week low of ₹ 2,136 in March 2025. Over the past 12 months, the FMCG stock has largely remained range-bound, declining 3.5 percent. However, the stock has shown signs of recovery recently, gaining almost 10 percent in July so far, following a 2.3 percent fall in June. The scrip had risen for three consecutive months before that — 0.3 percent in May, 3.7 percent in April, and 3 percent in March. It had lost 11.3 percent in February after a solid 6 percent gain in January. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Who is Priya Nair, the first woman chosen as CEO-MD of Hindustan Unilever?
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) on Thursday announced Priya Nair as the next managing director and chief executive officer (MD and CEO) of India's largest FMCG firm. Priya Nair, currently president of Unilever's Beauty & Wellbeing division, will take over on August 1.(HUL) Nair, currently president of Unilever's Beauty & Wellbeing division, will take over on August 1. According to PTI, she will be the first woman to hold the posts at Hindustan Unilever. Nair replaces Rohit Jawa, who stepped down to pursue the next chapter in his personal and professional journey, the FMCG major said in a statement. He had taken up the role in 2023. Also Read | As MD and CEO, Priya Nair will also join the HUL board, subject to necessary approvals, and continue to be a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE), according to the company statement. HUL chairperson Nitin Paranjpe said that 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," Paranjpe said in the statement. Priya Nair's journey, via Symbiosis and Harvard
NDTV
11-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Who Is Priya Nair, First Woman CEO And MD Of Hindustan Unilever
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) on Thursday appointed Priya Nair its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1. She will be the first woman to lead India's largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company. Ms Nair, currently President of Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, will take charge for a five-year term. She will succeed Rohit Jawa, who steps down on July 31, after taking the reins in 2023. Ms Nair will also join the HUL Board, pending approvals, and continue as a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive. "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 HUL Chairman Nitin Paranjpe. Who Is Priya Nair? Born in Kolhapur to Malayalee parents, Priya Nair was raised and educated in Mumbai. She graduated with a in Accounts & Statistics from Sydenham College, Mumbai. She completed her MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. She later attended a management program at Harvard Business School. She joined Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) in 1995 as a Consumer Insights Manager. In 1998, she became Brand Manager for key brands like Dove, Rin, and Comfort. By 2004, she was Marketing Manager. In 2007, she took over as General Manager. In 2009, she became General Manager, overseeing HUL's western region, as per her LinkedIn profile. Ms Nair served as Executive Director and CCVP (Customer Development, Consumer & Market Insight, Vice President) for Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care in South Asia. In 2022, she was appointed Global Chief Marketing Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing. In 2023, she was elevated to President, Beauty & Wellbeing, overseeing a Euro 12 billion (Rs 1.08 lakh crore) global portfolio including Hair Care, Skin Care, Prestige Beauty, and Health & Wellbeing. Ms Nair has served as an Independent Director on the board of a listed Indian company, a board member of ASCI, and a participant in several public-private partnerships. She has also led industry forums such as MMA India. Priya Nair is currently based in London. She is married and has one daughter.
