An outsider's view of luxury fashion, pioneering leadership with a people-first vision.
About
Leena Nair at a glance
Leena Nair was born in India in 1969. She became the Global CEO of Chanel in 2022, making her the second female and the first Asian CEO in the brand's century-old history.
Known for her progressive leadership, she previously served as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Unilever, where she worked for three decades and achieved a 50/50 gender balance across global leadership roles.
A trailblazer in sustainable business practices and organizational culture, Leena's accomplishments have gained significant recognition, including being named one of Fortune's most powerful women.
Known for her progressive leadership, she previously served as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Unilever, where she worked for three decades and achieved a 50/50 gender balance across global leadership roles.
A trailblazer in sustainable business practices and organizational culture, Leena's accomplishments have gained significant recognition, including being named one of Fortune's most powerful women.
1st
Asian Woman CEO in Chanel’s history
150,000
Workforce as CHRO at Unilever
30
Years at Unilever
Experience
Present
Chanel
CEO
Unilever
Chief Human Resources Officer
Education
1990 - 1992
XLRI Jamshedpur
MBA, Human Resources
1986 - 1990
Walchand College of Engineering
Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering
Interests
Did you know?
In 2016, she became Unilever’s “youngest ever, first female, first Asian” Chief Human Resources Officer.
She is a mentor and advocate for aspiring leaders, especially women, encouraging them to challenge conventional norms in business.
Leena Nair writes a gratitude journal and practices meditation every day.