HUL shares jump 5% as Priya Nair named FMCG major's new CEO in major leadership shift

Shares of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) surged 5% in Friday’s early trade to a high of ₹2529.90 on the NSE as the company announced leadership change on Thursday.

At 10:26 AM, the scrip of the FMCG major was trading at ₹2515.80, up 4.46% from its previous close of ₹2408.40.

In a key leadership change, HUL had announced the appointment of Priya Nair as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2025, on Thursday. Nair, who currently serves as President, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, will succeed Rohit Jawa, who is stepping down after a two-year stint as MD & CEO. Her appointment will be for a five-year term, lasting until July 31, 2030.

Nair, a company veteran, joined HUL in 1995 and has held various leadership roles across Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care divisions. Her elevation marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman to lead India’s largest FMCG company.

Jawa’s departure comes earlier than expected as his term was originally slated to run till 2028. In his resignation letter to the board, Jawa said he has decided to move on to the next chapter of his personal and professional journey, adding that there are no material reasons behind the decision beyond what has been disclosed. Jawa will also step down from all associated board committees, including the Risk Management Committee, Stakeholders Relationship Committee, and Environmental, Social and Governance Committee.

His departure signals a significant leadership transition for HUL, with Nair set to take over at a time of rapid evolution in the consumer goods landscape.

This made the stock one of the top gainers on the Nifty 50 index during morning trade. Other notable gainers on the index included IndusInd Bank (0.96%), Tata Consumer Products (0.8%), SBI Life Insurance (0.73%), and Axis Bank (0.63%).

HUL’s recent financial performance shows mixed trends. For the quarter ended March 2025, revenue stood at ₹15,670 crore, slightly lower than ₹15,818 crore in the previous quarter. Net profit for the March 2025 quarter was ₹2,476 crore, down from ₹2,988 crore in December 2024.

Despite quarterly fluctuations, HUL has reported steady growth over the years. Annual revenue rose from ₹47,028 crore in FY21 to ₹ 63,121 crore in FY25. Net profit increased from ₹8,000 crore to ₹10,679 crore over the same period. EPS climbed from 34.03 in FY21 to 45.32 in FY25.

The company recently declared a final dividend of ₹24 per share, effective June 23, 2025.