Brands
HUL shakes up top deck as D2C challengers bite into FMCG turf
MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever has overhauled its leadership ranks across beauty and foods as chief executive Priya Nair moves to counter rising disruption from nimble direct-to-consumer brands reshaping India’s fast-moving consumer goods market.
The reshuffle signals a strategic pivot, blending long-serving executives with external talent to inject fresh thinking into slower-growing divisions.
In beauty and personal care, Nair has leaned on in-house leadership, naming Sunanda Khaitan as chief marketing officer and Abhinav Ravikumar as cmo–personal care. For foods and refreshments, she has turned outside the group, appointing Rajneet Kohli, former chief executive of Britannia Industries, as executive director, foods.
Industry watchers say the hybrid leadership approach aims to preserve HUL’s institutional strength while importing competitive agility.
“It’s a deliberate strategy to stay ahead in India’s fast-evolving FMCG market,” said Rahul Shah, co-founder of WalkWater Talent Agency.
Experts argue the pressure on HUL is structural rather than cyclical, driven by low barriers to entry, social media-led marketing and the rapid rise of digital-first brands.
“Consumption has not fallen, but demand has shifted channels,” said K Sudarshan, managing director – India and regional chair – Asia at EMA Partners. “Traditional strengths such as mass distribution and television advertising are no longer decisive.”
Unilever’s 2022 shift to a matrix structure organised around five business groups was meant to sharpen growth. Yet between FY2023 and FY2025, HUL’s revenue compound annual growth rate hovered at just over 2 per cent.
Revenue from the beauty and personal care segment has remained largely flat since FY2023. The foods and refreshments business grew modestly at around 2.8 per cent annually between FY2022 and FY2025, rising from Rs 14,105 crore to Rs 15,294 crore.
“The ecosystem is improving now,” said Naveen Trivedi, senior vice-president and research analyst at Motilal Oswal Financial Services. “If performance does not pick up in this environment, that could raise concerns.”
HUL is set to report its third-quarter earnings on 12 February.
The company, which runs 19 brands each generating more than Rs 1,000 crore in annual sales, has outlined four priorities to reignite volume growth. These include sharper targeting of three consumer cohorts: power spenders, premiumisers and democratisers, alongside brand renovation, stronger online discovery and disproportionate investment behind select growth bets.
“As we reimagine our brands, they need to be more modern and youthful,” Nair said on the company’s second-quarter investor call.
Global parent Unilever has publicly backed Nair’s leadership, with chief executive Fernando Fernandez last year reaffirming “100 per cent trust” in her stewardship of the India business.
Sector-wide headwinds remain mixed. FMCG volume growth slowed to 5.4 per cent in the September quarter amid GST-related disruptions, though value growth rose to 12.9 per cent, according to NielsenIQ.
With inflation easing, consumption sentiment is improving. “Large FMCG firms will find a way through this disruption,” Sudarshan said. “They have deep product insights and invest billions in research and development. This phase is likely to pass.”
Brands
Hyundai Venue crosses 1 lakh bookings, adds HX8 Diesel AT variant
New top-spec automatic diesel trim brings ventilated seats, OTA updates and paddle shifters.
MUMBAI: Hyundai Venue just hit the jackpot and upgraded the prize because when you cross 1 lakh bookings, you don’t just celebrate, you throw in paddle shifters and ventilated seats for the ride. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced that the all-new Hyundai Venue has achieved 1 lakh bookings, cementing its strong position in the compact SUV segment. To mark the milestone and further enhance customer choice, the company introduced the new HX8 Diesel Automatic (AT) variant.
The HX8 Diesel AT is powered by the proven U2 1.5L CRDi diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It adds a host of premium comfort, safety and convenience features, including:
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual-tone leatherette seats with VENUE branding
- Electric 4-way driver seat adjust
- Controller Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
- Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Rear disc brakes
- Ambient lighting on crash pad and central console
- Drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport)
- Traction control modes (Sand, Mud, Snow)
- Paddle shifters
HMIL, managing director & CEO Tarun Garg said, “We are delighted that the new Hyundai Venue has crossed 1 lakh bookings, reaffirming the strong trust Indian customers place in our brand. The introduction of the new HX8 Diesel Automatic variant further strengthens the Venue lineup, offering customers the perfect blend of diesel efficiency, torque-rich performance and effortless convenience.”
Backed by Hyundai’s extensive sales and service network, the Venue continues to appeal to buyers seeking a feature-rich, comfortable and future-ready compact SUV. The new variant reinforces HMIL’s focus on delivering advanced technology, safety, comfort and value while adapting to evolving customer preferences.
In a segment where bookings are the real horsepower, Hyundai isn’t just counting milestones, it’s handing drivers an automatic upgrade that makes every journey feel like the victory lap.
