Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has announced a significant leadership change at its top management level. The company’s Board, in its meeting held on August 21, 2025, approved the appointment of Niranjan Gupta as Chief Financial Officer (CFO)-Designate, effective September 1, 2025. He will officially assume charge as Executive Director, Finance & CFO and a Director on the Board from November 1, 2025, for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval.
Gupta will succeed Ritesh Tiwari, who has been appointed as Global Head of M&A and Treasury at Unilever Plc and will be based in London from November 1, 2025. Tiwari’s tenure as HUL’s CFO and Executive Director, Finance & IT, will conclude at the close of business on October 31, 2025.
Niranjan Gupta’s profile
Niranjan Gupta began his career with HUL and spent nearly two decades across multiple finance and leadership roles before moving on to Vedanta Limited for three years. In 2017, he joined Hero MotoCorp as CFO and was elevated to CEO in 2023. Gupta played a crucial role in improving financial health, shaping long-term strategy, and spearheading strategic partnerships, including the much-talked-about collaboration with Harley Davidson.
His return to HUL is seen as a homecoming for a seasoned finance and business leader with expertise spanning M&A, supply chain, and strategy. He will report directly to Priya Nair, CEO & MD, HUL.
Ritesh Tiwari’s contribution
Tiwari, who took over as CFO of HUL in May 2021, navigated the company through the challenging COVID-19 pandemic years, ensuring sustained growth while protecting HUL’s financial model. He also led portfolio transformations, capital allocation aligned with strategic priorities, and oversaw major acquisitions and disposals. Most recently, Tiwari played a pivotal role in the demerger of HUL’s ice cream business into Kwality Walls (India) Limited, paving the way for its independent listing.
CEO’s statement
Commenting on the leadership changes, Priya Nair said, “I would like to thank Ritesh for his future-focused leadership and invaluable contribution to HUL. His elevation to the global role is a testament to the strength of HUL’s leadership pipeline. At the same time, I am delighted to welcome Niranjan back to HUL and I am confident that he will play a pivotal role in steering the company towards its next phase of growth.”
This transition underscores HUL’s focus on building a strong leadership bench while aligning with Unilever’s global leadership strategy.