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The Print
21 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
A Malayalee from Gujarat is shaking up Kerala BJP. Rajeev Chandrasekhar's un-Sangh poll campaign
In his campaign mode, the Malayalee politician from Gujarat is not just trying to familiarise himself with his roots, but also making an effort to leave his technocrat footprint on the state—where the BJP is yet to find a firm footing—for rising beyond 'underdevelopment and misgovernance'. As Kerala heads to the local body polls scheduled in December, before the all-important state elections early next year, the former Union minister is focusing on a campaign focused on 'Viksit Keralam' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schemes as its pivots while projecting a more inclusive perception of the BJP. Thiruvanthapuram: When Rajeev Chandrasekhar became the BJP's Kerala chief in March, it was a break from the usual dyed-in-the wool Sangh background leader taking over the responsibility. Three months on, the businessman-turned-politician is moving ahead with a strategy visibly different from his predecessors. Before his political career took flight in 2006, when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha representing Karnataka, Chandrasekhar had worked with tech companies, including Intel and Softech. He has a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a Master's in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. In 1994, after returning to India, he founded BPL Mobile, one of the country's earliest and largest mobile cellular networks. Nearly three decades later in 2021, he was appointed Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The BJP leader, however, lost to Shashi Tharoor last year in Thiruvananthapuram. One of his first major events Chandrasekhar organised after taking over from was the launch of the 'Viksit Keralam convention' across the party's 30 organisational districts. A team of over 600 functionaries, dubbed Team Vikasita Keralam, oversaw the campaign, which targeted the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) over alleged misgovernance. At the State Office Bearers meeting of BJP's 'Team Vikasita Keralam' held today at Mararji Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. Senior party leaders and key functionaries from across the state participated in the meeting, which focused on sharpening organizational strategy and… — Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) July 18, 2025 At the same time, they highlighted the Modi government's development schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana aimed at providing easy access to credit for small business owners and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) that looks to improve rural road connectivity. This month, Chandrasekhar expanded the effort further by setting up help desks in all district headquarters, reportedly the first in BJP, to ensure that awareness on central schemes reach every citizen. 'All BJP district and constituency offices will function as public service centres. This is not politics, the aim is to deliver development,' he said inaugurating the initiative last week, adding that these help desks will soon be available as an app on BJP workers' phones, enabling citizens to learn about and access various schemes or file complaints. Political analyst and former journalist K.P. Sethunath highlighted that this was the first time that a technocrat was appointed as the Kerala party chief instead of a conventional politician. 'Earlier, the BJP state chief always had a core RSS background. Now, anti-minority rhetoric has been scaled down by them. They don't need the BJP to do it anymore; fringe elements will,' he told ThePrint. Though Chandrasekhar has been not able to inculcate a Malayalee image, he said, the campaign might convince many to go for a change in the southern state. Sethunath said the BJP campaign would target Kerala's urban middle class, particularly upper-caste and upper-class voters disillusioned with LDF and UDF. However, he added that the BJP might have to defend this campaign as its Viksit Bharat initiative is currently receiving setbacks due to its efficiency and outcomes. The eroding Modi magic in the national level could also impact the party's prospects as Chandrasekhar's campaign was solely focussed on 'Modi vision' for India, he asserted. BJP general secretary Renu Suresh said Chandrasekhar's appointment signaled the Centre's serious intent to grow in Kerala. 'He has close ties with the central government and understands their initiatives well. That helps in coordination,' she said, adding that the party's developmental focus aligns with his leadership. Also Read: RSS to Raj Bhavan via Goa BJP, now amid 'Bharat Mata' image row—tracing Kerala Governor Arlekar's journey Litmus test ahead While heading the party's campaign, the first step for the Kerala BJP chief to prove himself is the upcoming local body polls. The party's focus on the local body polls was also visible on Saturday when Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state to address ward-level functionaries. Currently, BJP controls two municipalities and 19 gram panchayats. Kerala has a total of 1,200 local bodies encompassing 6 municipal corporations, 87 municipalities, 14 district panchayats, 152 block panchayats, and 941 gram panchayats Keeping Chandrasekhar close to him on the stage, Shah said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest in 21,000 locations and ensure its presence at every booth with more than 25 percent of the vote share. The pitch was Viksit Kerala, which, he said, would be impossible without the BJP and the NDA. 'The foundation of this vision rests on three key principles of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji: first, governance without corruption; second, no discrimination in the implementation of government schemes; and third, a commitment to Kerala's development, rising above vote bank politics,' Shah said. Many party leaders said Chandrasekhar's arrival has energised grassroots workers. 'It was his idea to focus on grassroots cadre-building. Now, responsibilities have been clearly assigned to both new and old members,' said Renu. She also acknowledged that the party was previously seen as inactive between elections but is now increasing its public outreach ahead of the local polls. In each booth, a three-member committee has been set up to ensure coordination and leadership roles for local cadres, a party functionary from Ernakulam said. BJP general secretary Anoop Antony told ThePrint the party is aiming to capture power in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur municipal corporations, along with several municipalities and dozens of gram panchayats. This confidence stems from BJP's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Chandrasekhar improved the party's vote share in Thiruvananthapuram from 31.30 percent in 2019 to 35.52 percent, while actor-politician Suresh Gopi secured BJP's first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Thrissur. Imprint on Kerala unit On 12 July, the party appointed 10 vice-presidents, including former IPS officer R. Sreelekha, K.S. Radhakrishnan, C. Sadanandan Master, Advocate B. Gopalakrishnan, Shone George, M. Abdul Salam, K. Soman, K.K. Aneesh Kumar, C. Krishnakumar, and P. Sudheer. Four general secretaries were named: M.T. Ramesh, Sobha Surendran, Adv. S. Suresh, and Anoop Antony Joseph. Three Christians—George, Joseph and secretary Jiji Joseph—were included in the BJP state committee members, signalling the party's long-term efforts to woo the community. Sobha Surendran, who had publicly criticised K. Surendran and was previously excluded from his core committee, has now been inducted as a vice-president and a core committee member. Meanwhile, a former state committee member who was recently embroiled in a 'half-price' scam, has been dropped. BJP leaders told ThePrint that despite the reshuffle, internal tussles have been minimal. However, they acknowledged that a more 'inclusive' leadership profile is essential for electoral success. 'To come to power in Kerala, we need Christian and Muslim votes. While the Muslims remain reluctant, we are seeing a strong Christian participation, which should be reflected in leadership, too,' a senior party leader told ThePrint. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Legs hacked by Left supporters, how RS entrant Sadanandan's case played out in the courts
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Priya Nair: Pulling all the right levers
That Dalal Street has given a five-notch salute to the news of a small-town girl Priya Nair moving to the corner room of the country's largest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) maker is less about she being the first-ever woman to lead the 92-year-old Hindustan Unilever, but more about her accomplishments during her three decades in the company. Priya's journey began in 1995 as a management trainee in the company that is also known as the 'CEO Factory' for grooming dozens of trainees into chief executives of large multinational corporations. Born in a middle class Malayalee family in the Maharashtra's sugar town of Kolhapur, Priya does not boast of a degree from the top B-schools – she graduated from Sydenham College in Bombay and then a master's in marketing from Symbiosis Management Institute in Pune (not from top tier IIMs), Nair's rise to the top itself breaks many a myth. The immediate reference points that the market is lapping up are how Priya has turned around the struggling beauty and skin care business of the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant in London as its president since 2023 and has made it a 13-billion-poundprofit company. Back home as the executive director of the home care division (2014-20), she helped boost the segmental profit margins from a low 13.1% to 18.8%, which also lifted HUL's overall margins from 15% to 22.3%. The market is also benchmarking her against the stellar show that Sanjiv Mehta (the CEO before the outgoing incumbent Rohit Jawa), who was instrumental in more than doubling annual sales to Rs 58,000 crore from Rs 25,000 crore, and market-cap soaring four times to over Rs 5.5 lakh crore during his five-year term ending in June 2023. Priya doing an encore is what the expectation is. Analysts and markets have already factored in her ability to do the not-so-easily-doable that too at a stellar scale. London-based Priya assumes a 5-year tenure from August 1 at a time when the company is facing slowing growth and intense competition from fast moving D2C brands and new-age players. Under the watch of the outgoing leadership, sales barely climbed 2% while the stock plunged 10%.
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First Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Hindustan Unilever gets its first woman boss. Who is Priya Nair?
For the first time in its 92-year history, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has appointed a woman, Priya Nair, as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. She currently heads Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing division, a business worth 13 billion euros that includes brands like Dove, Sunsilk, Clear, and Vaseline. She will take on her new role from August 1, 2025 read more Nair was born in Kolhapur to Malayalee parents and raised in Mumbai. Image: News18 For the first time in its 92-year history, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has named a woman as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Priya Nair will take charge after Rohit Jawa steps down on July 31, 2025. Her new role will begin on August 1, 2025. She will also become a member of the HUL Board, subject to the required approvals, and will continue to be part of the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But who is Priya Nair? Let's take a look: Who is Priya Nair? She has been named the next Managing Director and CEO of Hindustan Unilever, replacing Rohit Jawa. Nair currently leads a business worth 13 billion euros as President of Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing division, managing hair and skin care brands such as Dove, Sunsilk, Clear and Vaseline. HUL Chairman Nitin Paranjpe said in a statement, '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.' So, who is she? Nair was born in Kolhapur to Malayalee parents and raised in Mumbai, where she also completed her education. Her new role will begin on August 1, 2025. Image: HUL She earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounts and Statistics from Sydenham College, Mumbai. She later pursued an MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, followed by a management course at Harvard Business School. She joined HUL in 1995 as a Consumer Insights Manager. In 1998, she became Brand Manager for key products such as Dove, Rin and Comfort. By 2004, she was promoted to Marketing Manager. In 2007, she became General Manager. In 2009, she began overseeing HUL's western region, according to her LinkedIn profile. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She went on to serve as Executive Director and CCVP (Customer Development, Consumer and Market Insight, Vice President) for Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care in South Asia. In 2022, she was named Global Chief Marketing Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing. A year later, she became President of the division, handling a global portfolio worth 13 billion euros (Rs 1.08 lakh crore), which includes hair care, skin care, Prestige Beauty and health & wellbeing. Nair is currently based in London. She is married and has a daughter. Notably, HUL is a major Indian fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company, offering products across categories such as personal care, food, beverages and cleaning supplies. This leadership shift comes as Unilever increases its focus on India. Global CEO Fernando Fernandez recently described India as one of the company's two anchor markets, reflecting the 'double down on India' strategy shared in November 2024. Growth concerns at HUL? Nair is set to take charge from Rohit Jawa, who is stepping down before completing his five-year term. Since his appointment in June 2023, Jawa has steered HUL through a challenging economic period. Over the last two years, HUL's performance has been subdued. Its volume, revenue and earnings have grown by just 2 to 3 per cent annually. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Mint, HUL's volume growth has stayed below 5 per cent over the past six years. The company is also facing rising competition from agile startups, especially in the beauty and personal care space. In FY2025, HUL reported a turnover of Rs 61,469 crore and a net profit of Rs 10,644 crore. Its market capitalisation currently stands at Rs 5.66 lakh crore. Following the announcement of Priya Nair's appointment as HUL's first woman CEO, the company's shares jumped nearly 5 per cent to Rs 2,518.65 on the BSE. Priya Nair will take charge after Rohit Jawa steps down. Image: News18 Between 2014 and 2020, as Executive Director of Home Care, Nair led a turnaround that improved the segment's EBIT margins by 570 basis points, from 13.1 per cent in FY14 to 18.8 per cent in FY20. This improvement also helped raise HUL's overall EBIT margin from 15 per cent to 22.3 per cent. With her five-year term beginning on August 1, 2025, all eyes will be on whether Nair can revive growth across HUL's wide portfolio and bring back momentum. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
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.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Hindustan Unilever appoints Priya Nair as first woman CEO, replaces Rohit Jawa
MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever (HUL), the country's largest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) firm, has announced key management changes Thursday, appointing Priya Nair as the first woman chief executive and managing director for the next five years beginning August 1, 2025, and replacing the incumbent Rohit Jawa. The Kohlapur-born Nair joins the elite club of desi C-suite executives to head global organisations. Nair, born to Malayalee parents and educated in Mumbai's Syndheham College, is currently the president for beauty and wellbeing division of the Anglo-Dutch major Unilever. In an exchange filing, the FMCG major said Jawa who took over as the CEO and MD, in 2023, will step down as the CEO and MD on July 31, to pursue the next chapter in his personal and professional journey. Jawa was appointed as a director on the board from April 1, 2023 and was designated as EEO & MD effective June 27, 2023. Nair is be the first woman to be the first CEO and MD of HUL in its decades of journey in the country, and join the HUL board and will continue to be a member of the Unilever leadership executive team, the company said. "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," HUL chairman Nitin Paranjpe said in the statement in which he also thanked Jawa for 'leading the business through tough market conditions and strengthening its foundations for success.'
