“Dynamic, inclusive, and compassionate,” HUL CEO Rohit Jawa remembers former chairman SM Datta

Rohit Jawa, CEO of Indian FMCG bellwether Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), paid a heartfelt tribute to former chairman Susim Mukul Datta, who passed away on Saturday in Mumbai at the age of 89, on LinkedIn. 

Describing Datta as a “dynamic, inclusive, and compassionate,” Jawa recounted the time when Datta became the chairman of HUL, a few years after Jawa joined the company as a management trainee. “He was a true leader, always putting the team before the individual,” he wrote. Datta himself joined HUL in the 1950s and served as chairman of HUL between 1990 and 1996.

It was under Datta’s tenure as chairman that liberalisation reforms swept India. When HUL started to make strategic mergers, including the merger of the erstwhile Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO) in 1993, it was the largest acquisition of the time. “No wonder the media named him the ‘merger magician’. In fact, his deep technical knowledge, sheer intellect and clarity of thought were unparalleled,” Jawa wrote.

According to Jawa, Datta embodied the spirit of HUL, with the belief that what is good for India is also good for the company. Jawa also recounted the time when Datta said that throughout his years with the company, he witnessed the spirit of participation, engagement and enquiry, not only in the microcosm of the company, the factories or the processes, but also on larger issues of national concern. “How to build a better mousetrap – that spirit has always prevailed in HUL,” Jawa quoted him saying.

In 2023, when Jawa succeeded Sanjiv Mehta as the CEO of HUL, he sought an audience with Datta for his blessings. He recounted witnessing a deeply spiritual side of Datta. “He told me how he was still learning about spirituality, a little more every day. To be open to new learnings every moment of every day was indeed Mr. Datta’s strongest suit,” he wrote.

Datta’s contributions to the company have been immeasurable, according to Jawa. “Mr Datta’s teachings have shaped every HUL leader, like myself, over the years. Even as we mourn losing him, we know in our hearts that his legacy will forever be etched in HUL history,” he wrote.

Sanjiv Mehta, executive chairman of L Catterton India and former chairman and CEO of HUL, said Datta led HUL during a transformative period in India's history, guiding the company through the waves of liberalisation in the early nineties. "Under his stewardship, he skillfully consolidated Unilever’s various entities, forging a stronger identity for HUL that continues to thrive today. His visionary leadership was not just about business acumen; it was also defined by an unwavering commitment to integrity, respect, and the relentless pursuit of excellence," said Mehta.

"Although I never had the privilege of working directly alongside Mr. Datta, I had the honor of meeting him on several occasions during my tenure as CEO / Chairman of HUL. His quiet demeanor belied a magnetic presence that drew people in. At one of the annual Retired Directors Review, where we gathered to reminisce and share insights, I distinctly remember a moment when he took me aside, placed his arm around my shoulders, and said, 'I am proud of the way you are leading our company.' Those words remain etched in my memory and serve as a guiding light in my journey," Mehta wrote on LinkedIn.

"Datta epitomised what it means to lead with grace and dignity, and his passion for HUL never wavered, even in retirement. At HUL, we stood on the shoulders of giants—leaders like Mr. Datta who paved the way for us to build a company renowned not just as India's leading FMCG entity, but also as one of the most valuable consumer packaged goods companies in the world. His legacy reminds us that leadership is not just about making decisions; it’s about developing others, holding steadfast to our values, and prioritising the greater good of our organisation," added Mehta.