Leena Nair is the current CEO of Chanel , appointed in January 2022. She is the first woman and the first person of Asian origin to lead the iconic brand, bringing her distinguished track record from Unilever where she previously served as Chief Human Resources Officer.
Nair is recognized for pioneering diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability both in the consumer goods and luxury fashion industries. Career Background Over nearly 30 years, Nair drove workforce transformation at Unilever, achieving gender
parity in global leadership, and became the company's youngest, first female, and first Asian CHRO. Leena Nair built her career with Unilever, rising to Chief Human Resources Officer —a role where she was known for pioneering inclusivity, diversity, and employee well-being across a global scale.
At Chanel , she brought a unique approach, aiming to adapt lessons from the consumer goods sector to high luxury fashion, and quickly became a prominent female leader in the industry.
Achievements and Initiatives as CEO Launched N°1 de Chanel , a sustainability-focused beauty line, and made sustainability a strategic pillar, committing Chanel to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Oversaw the expansion of Foundation Chanel ’s philanthropy, increasing funding from $20 million to $100 million annually, with a global impact on over 9 million women and girls. Pushed gender equality, raising the percentage of women in management to 60% at Chanel…
