FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) announced the appointment of Rohit Jawa as its new Managing Director & CEO from June 27, 2023. He will join the company as CEO designate and Whole-time Director from April 1, 2023. Currently the Chief of Transformation for Unilever in London since January 2022, Jawa will also take over as President, Unilever South Asia.
“He will join the Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE) effective April 1, 2023. After a transformational tenure of 10 years at the helm of HUL, Sanjiv Mehta will retire from the company,” HUL said in a statement. The 56-year-old, in his role as the CTO has successfully orchestrated the once-in-a-decade, end-to-end transformation of Unilever.
Having done a Bachelor of Science from St. Stephens College, Delhi and an MBA from Faculty of Management Study (1986-88), Jawa recently got an Executive Education Certificate in Advanced Management Program, Business Administration and Management, General from Harvard Business School.
In 1988, Jawa started his career with HUL as a management trainee and has a proven track record of sustained business results across – India, South-East Asia, and North Asia. In June 1988, he became General Manager for the Western Region in-charge of the sales and operations.
After staying in the role for nearly 16 years, he became Vice President for Unilever Vietnam from May 2004 to Oct 2006. He was Head of the Home Care business and Marketing function for Unilever Vietnam.
As EVP for North Asia & Chairman for Unilever China, he led a significant transformation of Unilever China into a competitive, profitable, and consistent business, now Unilever’s 3rd biggest globally. As the Chairman of Unilever Philippines, he led the business to become one of the top 10 markets for Unilever globally.
Jawa, throughout his marketing career, has contributed to the industry in the Asian region, including serving as an expert speaker and judge in several regional advertising and marketing forums. Internationalist Magazine recognised him as one of ‘The Asia 50’ marketers in 2013. He was also awarded the ‘CEO Excel’ Award for 2015 by the Philippines chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators for leadership in business communication.
During his over three-decade long career, Jawa has also served as the founding Secretary for the Food Industry Asia, Singapore in 2010 and Co-Chair of the ‘Grow Asia Philippines’ along with Secretary of Agriculture, Philippines in 2015-16. He has also served on the Consumer Goods Forum China board, a global, CEO led collaboration for positive change.
