Indian-born Leena Nair will take over as the global CEO of Chanel, the French luxury fashion house. Leena, who worked with Unilever as the top HR, joins the growing league of Indian-origin executives being chosen for top posts across industries.
As per news reports, she is the second Indian-born woman after Indra Nooyi to be appointed for a global post.
The move is being seen as an attempt by the company to up its efforts towards inclusion. According to reports, it also comes when the market has witnessed a slump due to the pandemic. Her appointment is expected to ensure its long-term success as a private company, as per the statement released by Chanel.
Reacting to the news on her Twitter handle, Leena said, “I am humbled and honored to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of @CHANEL, an iconic and admired company.”
Leena began her career in 1992 with Unilever. Her growth in the company has been stunning, as she emerged as the “first female, first Asian, youngest ever” Unilever Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) in 2016.
An alumna of XLRI Jamshedpur, Leena, who originally hails from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, completed her Engineering in electronics and telecommunications from Sangli’s Walchand College. She is a gold medalist in MBA, HR at XLRI.
Ranked among the Fortune List of most powerful women, she is known for her people-centric approach.
Leena will take charge of her new role at the end of January 2022.
