Hindustan Unilever, the country’s largest consumer goods company, said on Tuesday that it has appointed Bobby Parikh, former CEO of Ernst & Young India, as an independent director on its board, effective December 1, for a term of five years.

“It is an honour to join the Board of Hindustan Unilever Limited, a company that has set benchmarks in corporate governance and responsible business. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members and the leadership team to help steer HUL through new opportunities and challenges,” said Parikh in a statement.

“We are delighted to welcome Bobby to the HUL Board as an Independent Director. His experience, combined with expertise in financial strategy and regulatory frameworks, has helped organisations steer complex, transformative business changes. We look forward to his insights and contributions as the company enters its next phase of growth,” said Nitin Paranjpe, non-executive chairman, HUL, in a statement.

Parikh holds a degree in commerce from the University of Mumbai and is a qualified chartered accountant. Parikh is a seasoned advisor with decades of experience guiding businesses through transformations. He is a strategic advisor to many large corporations and holds directorships in, among others, Infosys, Biocon and Indostar Capital. He has guided Indian and multinational businesses through India’s evolving policy landscape. His expertise spans working with private equity funds, institutional investors, and business owners to deliver tailored solutions aligned with commercial goals. He co-founded BMR Advisors, served as the CEO of Ernst & Young India, and held senior leadership roles, including serving as the country managing partner at Arthur Andersen.

The appointment comes at a time when Priya Nair, the new MD and CEO of Hindustan Unilever, is spearheading a transformative strategy to modernise and innovate HUL’s core brands. By segmenting consumer cohorts and investing in future-fit marketing channels, Nair aims to drive volume-led growth. Despite a modest second-quarter revenue increase, Nair remains optimistic about leveraging India’s evolving consumer landscape for long-term success.

“If you look at India, it is emerging with clear consumer cohorts. At the top end of the pyramid are power spenders, the 80 million Indians, who are spending a lot of money, and their average per capita income is going up. The democratisers are at the bottom of the pyramid. HUL has an incredible portfolio that spans across price pyramids, and there are opportunities to create strategies to segment brands, channels and cover each of these consumer cohorts and serve each of these consumer cohorts,” she said on the sidelines of the company’s second-quarter results.