Chanel appoints India-born Leena Nair as CEO

Leena Nair, the first female and youngest-ever Chief Human Resources Officer of Anglo-Dutch FMCG major Unilever has stepped down to join the French luxury group Chanel as its Global Chief Executive.
Nair said in a Twitter post that she was “humbled and honored to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of @CHANEL, an iconic and admired company”. While Nair, 52, is not a part of the Paris fashion scene, her appointment is seen back home as a sign of the rising stature of Indian business leaders, especially women.
Nair is succeeding billionaire co-owner and chairman of privately held Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, as CEO. The grandson of Chanel co-founder Pierre Wertheimer remains as global executive chairman of the fashion house.
In an emailed press announcement, Chanel said Nair’s hiring “will further ensure long-term success as a private company”. She will start her new role at the end of January and be based in London, the company said.
British consumer goods giant Unilever describes Nair as its first woman, first Asian and youngest-ever chief human resources officer. She joined Unilever in 1992 in India and advanced up the ranks, spending time at the company’s factories early on.
Nair is married to financial entrepreneur Kumar Nair and has two sons.