Leena Nair
Global chief executive of Chanel since January 2022
Leena Nair is the global chief executive of Chanel, the privately owned French luxury house, a role she has held since January 2022. Previously Unilever's chief human resources officer, she matters because she leads one of the world's most valuable fashion brands and came to luxury from outside the industry.
| Role | Global CEO, Chanel |
|---|---|
| Since | January 2022 |
| Previous role | Chief human resources officer, Unilever, 2016 to 2021 |
| Joined Unilever | 1992 |
| Honours | CBE, 2025 New Year Honours |
Who is Leena Nair?
Leena Nair is the global chief executive officer of Chanel. Her appointment was announced in December 2021 and she took up the role in January 2022. She leads the house across its fashion, fragrance and beauty, watches and fine jewellery businesses. In the 2025 New Year Honours she was appointed CBE for services to the retail and consumer sector.
Career
Nair spent around three decades at Unilever. She joined Hindustan Unilever in India as a management trainee in 1992 and rose through human resources and leadership roles, including executive director for HR in South Asia and later global head of leadership and organisational development and head of diversity and inclusion.
In 2016 she became Unilever's chief human resources officer and a member of its executive leadership team, a role she held until she left to join Chanel. At Unilever she was closely associated with work on leadership development, the future of work and diversity in management.
Influence on the fashion business
Nair's appointment was notable because she came from consumer goods and people leadership rather than from luxury or fashion. Her tenure has spanned several significant moments for the house:
- a period of leadership change in design, with Matthieu Blazy named artistic director of fashion in December 2024 after the departure of Virginie Viard
- continued investment in Chanel's métiers d'art, the specialist ateliers that supply embroidery, feathers, pleating and other crafts
- a public focus on people, culture and purpose as part of how the house is run
As chief executive of a private company, she is also one of the most visible faces of a house that historically has spoken publicly far less than its listed rivals.
Why it matters
Her route to the top of Chanel is also a reminder that the skills needed to run a global luxury house extend well beyond product and image. Managing thousands of employees across ateliers, boutiques and offices, developing leaders and keeping a strong culture through creative transitions are central to the role, and these were the areas in which Nair built her reputation at Unilever.
Nair's career shows that luxury groups increasingly look beyond the traditional fashion talent pool for chief executives with experience in organisational change, talent and global consumer operations. Her leadership of Chanel, alongside a new creative direction under Blazy, makes her one of the central figures in the luxury sector as the house enters a new chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the CEO of Chanel?
Leena Nair has been global chief executive of Chanel since January 2022. She previously spent around three decades at Unilever, latterly as chief human resources officer.
What did Leena Nair do before Chanel?
She worked at Unilever from 1992, rising from management trainee to chief human resources officer and member of the executive leadership team in 2016.