Rohit Jawa to take over Hindustan Unilever's reins from Sanjiv Mehta

Appointment as MD & CEO to take effect on June 27

Rohit Jawa will take charge as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), Hindustan Unilever (HUL), on June 27, when Sanjiv Mehta retires after being at the helm of the company for 10 years.

Jawa will be CEO designate and whole-time director from April 1 and will take over as president, Unilever South Asia. He will join the Unilever Leade–rship Executive (ULE) on April 1.

“Rohit (56) is currently the Chief of Transformation for Unilever in London, where since January 2022 he has successfully orchestrated the once-in-a-decade, end-to-end transformation of Unilever. He started his career with HUL as a management trainee in 1988 and has a proven track record of sustained business results across India, Southeast Asia, and North Asia,” HUL said in its statement.

“As EVP for North Asia & chairman for Unilever China, he led a significant transformation of Unilever China into a competitive, profitable, and consistent business, now Unilever’s third-biggest globally,” the company’s statement added.

As chairman of Unilever Philip–pines, he led the business to become one of the top 10 markets for Unilever globally.

“Rohit’s ability to integrate the strength of traditional markets with digital technologies and future-fit business models positions him well to take HUL into its next growth phase,” the company said. 

Mehta (62) took over in October 2013 and during his decade at the helm, the turnover of the company crossed Rs 50,000 crore and market capitalisation increased more than four times from $17 billion to $75 billion.

His proposition was to create long-term value anchored in growth, high performance, and distinctive capabilities.

“He introduced several transformative business programmes such as ‘Dial Up the Big Q’ and ‘Winning in Many Indias’ to make the business more consumer-centric, agile, and resilient,” the company said in its statement.

He was also behind several strategic mergers and acquisitions like the amalgamation of GSK Consumer Healthcare into HUL -- one of the biggest mergers in FMCG history in the country.

Nitin Paranjpe, non-executive chairman, HUL, said: “Sanjiv with his foresight has led HUL to become a high-performing and future-fit business. He has been an integral part of the Unilever Leadership Executive and has driven the South Asia growth agenda as the president of the market cluster. As president of Ficci (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) last year, Sanjiv made a significant contribution towards industry in India. Through his passion, commitment, and endless energy, he leaves behind a business that is now poised to achieve even greater heights.”

On Jawa, Paranjpe said: “I am delighted to welcome Rohit back to India. He has a deep understanding of the business landscape, particularly in Asia, and has led the transformation of Unilever businesses in China and in the Philippines. I am certain that with his astute business acumen and growth mindset Rohit will take HUL to the next level of performance.”

HUL announced the appointment of Ranjay Gulati as independent director on its board, effective April 1. He is professor at Harvard Business School.

Last year, Unilever had said the US, India and China were three of its key growth markets, underlining plans to grow in India amid rising use of the internet in the country and the economy’s expansion, according to Reuters.

HUL recently hiked royalties and central services fees it pays its majority owner, Unilever, to 3.45 per cent of its turnover over three years from 2.65 per cent earlier.